Do you say “on accident” or “by accident”?
Posted by Hotwheels303@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 1097 comments
I saw a post on AskUk about Americanisms and multiple comments said they think “on accident” is an Americanism they can’t stand. I have always said by accident and when I asked friends they all agreed. You do something on purpose or by accident.
LeviAsmodeus@reddit
On accident tends to be more the American south
Sabertooth767@reddit
I'd reckon that I say "by accident" most of the time, but I've definitely said "on accident" before (one might say... on accident).
elpollodiablox@reddit
Bonus points for "reckon" here.
SCSP_70@reddit
Someone poked at my use of “reckon” the other day, and now I see it being called out on the internet… whats wrong with reckon?
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
It’s just a southernism. Anything associated with southern dialects is likely to be ridiculed by idiots too addlebrained to understand that dialect and intellect are about as correlated to one another as submarine sales and the volume of my daily shits.
MoonCat269@reddit
I'd say addlepated.
Dirty_Gnome9876@reddit
I’ve read freakanomics. I know the amount of submarine sales globally has direct impact on poo size. You can’t fool me, Mr. Illuminati.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Oh shit he’s on to me!
DigPrior@reddit
I mean the south does have the lowest education scores.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
And Alabama has the city with the highest amount of literal rocket scientists per capita in the US. Your point?
sfdsquid@reddit
It's actually pretty common in Britain too.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Southern American English is often considered one of the closest American dialects to British English, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a remnant from yall that we kept :)
jabbergrabberslather@reddit
Ive heard it way more from Aussies than I did when I lived in the south.
maddiep81@reddit
Reckon was used by Greatest Gen/Silent Gen in the Upper Midwest when I (Gen X) was a kid. More the former than the latter.
elpollodiablox@reddit
Absolutely nothing. It's underused.
KLoveInLife@reddit
“By accident-ly”
DrTenochtitlan@reddit
College professor here. I've *definitely* heard a shift among those 25 and under to "on accident", to the point where I'd say most youth in the US in my region (the South) use it, including in formal papers. Anyone over 25 uses "by accident".
Flat_Loquat_4819@reddit
My spouse and I are both over 40 and say and have always said “on accident.” Doctorate and Masters college educations, South east region.
LaraH39@reddit
And yet you still get it wrong...
alloutofbees@reddit
Explain why it's wrong.
LaraH39@reddit
It's grammatically incorrect.
msflagship@reddit
Language changes with time, by now it’s acceptable at least in the southeast region.
LaraH39@reddit
Language does change with time. Grammatical rules do not. It not "grammatically acceptable" any more than "we was" which is said day and daily. It's wrong, full stop.
Spirited_Ingenuity89@reddit
This is not true. Nor is it an accurate understanding of what grammar is. The “rules” of grammar arise from the language structure demonstrated by its speakers. It’s not some list of dos and don’ts applied to a language. For example, English no longer has extensive morphology or 1st & 2nd person dual pronouns. These are changes to English grammar. And yes, dialect can (and does) affect grammar. For example, do you say “my family is” or “my family are”? Your answer is indicative of your dialect.
The example you gave elsewhere of ending a sentence with a preposition is actually a perfect instance of trying (and failing) to allay non-English rules to English. You, in fact, can end a sentence with a preposition in English, and you always could. However, some classicists wanted English to be more like Latin (which can’t), and so they said that you shouldn’t end a sentence with a preposition. This rule, though, never changed the way English actually functions because English isn’t Latin.
What you mean here is that it’s not socially acceptable because society decides which dialects to make prestigious (and view as more correct). Linguistically, all dialects are created equal. And “on accident” is actually quite acceptable in multiple dialects.
LaraH39@reddit
No. Its not acceptable in multiple dialects. There's a difference between "accepted" and "too stupid to know better".
Spirited_Ingenuity89@reddit
Just because you say this doesn’t make it so. And just because you aren’t familiar with these dialects doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Your feelings about these dialects have no bearing on the linguistic reality.
Dialect differences aren’t a matter of stupidity, nor are they a matter of education. Plenty of very educated people use “on accident” because it’s normal within their dialect’s usage. Like a Brit isn’t “too stupid to know better” because they say “petrol” or “chuffed” nor is an American stupid for saying “sweater” or “pharmacist.”
LaraH39@reddit
It doesn't matter how hard you say it. It's not a dialect. It's simply incorrect speech. People getting a phrase wrong which Americans do consistently doesn't make it "dialect".
Could care less, all of the sudden, for all intensive purposes... All wrong.
A dialect is regional. Using different words such as petrol as opposed to gas... Yep, dialect. Incorrect grammatical use, a misunderstanding... Not a dialect. On accident is no more dialect than "card shark" it's just simply the wrong phrase. The term is "by accident". Those who say "on accident" are wrong. And that really is all there is to it.
Spirited_Ingenuity89@reddit
A group of people consistently using a particular construction is exactly what a dialect is.
Regionality is one way the dialects can be defined, but there can be other defining features like class or ethnicity.
But dialect isn’t just about different vocabulary. Dialects can and do have different grammar structures as well. And just because a certain structure is wrong in one dialect doesn’t mean it’s wrong in other dialects.
LaraH39@reddit
Americans get phrases wrong because they are poorly educated. Not because they have dialects. On accident isn't dialect.
Spirited_Ingenuity89@reddit
You think that all Americans are uneducated? So really, you’re just prejudiced.
It’s laughable that you are criticizing other people for being uneducated while it the same time spouting ignorant nonsense like “Americans don’t have dialects.”
This American can tell you that her MA in linguistics means she’s pretty well educated about it, and you clearly don’t understand the criteria linguists use to evaluate and classify dialects. You might want to quit talking about subjects you don’t really know anything about.
LaraH39@reddit
I never said Americans don't have dialects I know they do. Nor did I say all Americans are uneducated.
Thank you for proving my point. Your MA clearly isn't worth the paper it's written on since you struggle so badly with basic comprehension.
Spirited_Ingenuity89@reddit
I don’t know how else you think this should be interpreted: “Americans get phrases wrong because they are poorly educated. Not because they have dialects.” Maybe stop offering up sweeping generalizations and you won’t be so easily misunderstood.
Nope. I’m not having any comprehension issues. And I ascribe to the toolmakers paradigm, not the conduit metaphor, so the onus of understanding is shared by both the speaker and listener. If there’s a misunderstanding, you are equally responsible. Maybe try to negotiate meaning instead of making pronouncements with no foundational knowledge.
Either way, you continue to speak from a place of complete linguistic ignorance. It doesn’t really matter if you belittle my degree because you clearly don’t know anything about linguistics. And you can be as emphatic as you want; it’s meaningless since you patently don’t know what you’re talking about.
Soft_Race9190@reddit
“We was”? That’s not grammatically incorrect. It’s 100% correct in a different dialect. Dialect doesn’t mean “throw out all of the grammatical rules”. It means actual grammatical rules that happen to differ from “standard”. While I am not a linguist I get the impression that “a consistent set of grammatical rules” is probably one of the defining characteristics of a dialect.
LaraH39@reddit
Jesus wept.
"We was" is grammatically incorrect. It's not dialect, it's just wrong.
Soft_Race9190@reddit
I see we’ve found a prescriptivist. I tend towards descriptivist. So I doubt that we’ll ever agree. Which I think is OK although there’s a good chance that you won’t.
LaraH39@reddit
I don't think you know what a dialect IS. And yes, you're right, I don't agree. I'm not a prescriptivist. As someone who uses dialect daily I understand the different and how they work.
On accident is no more dialect than "card shark".
GeneInternational146@reddit
This is categorically untrue. Grammar is part of language
LaraH39@reddit
Sure. And some grammatical rules like... Not ending in a preposition change because how we speak changes.
This is a grammatical rule based on the meaning of the word and tense. It's wrong. You don't have to like it, accept it or use it, but you're wrong if you don't.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
You don’t have to like it, accept it, or use the knowledge of the fact that there is nothing grammatically incorrect about it, but you’re wrong if you don’t.
LaraH39@reddit
You can't help stupid
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
That’s why I’m not trying to help you
LaraH39@reddit
You're the one here making a false argument on grammar use lol
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Which false statement? That dialects aren’t incorrect?
LaraH39@reddit
That's not dialect, that's incorrect grammar
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Wrong.
LaraH39@reddit
Mate, I'm sorry for you that you don't understand basic language. But it's not my problem. If you like being wrong, then have at it.
Live in your wrongness, embrace it. Let people know you're a fool. I support that 100%
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Bro thinks he understands language but doesn’t even comprehend the concept of dialects.
LaraH39@reddit
Bro totally understands dialects, it's clear you don't though lol
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Proof?
LaraH39@reddit
Of?
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Your laughably false statement.
LaraH39@reddit
The fact that I'm from the UK. Speak in dialect and am used to the hundreds of dialects from the UK? You know.... our language?
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
HAHAHA being from the UK doesn’t make you a dialect expert. You don’t have hundreds either, you have roughly 40 dialects there, compared to our ~30. Considering the massive difference in time for dialects to have developed, that’s speaks for American linguistic diversity.
And I also speak with dialect, can easily switch to standard American English when desired, and speak a foreign language with complete fluency and am very familiar with a few particular dialects of it that’re spoken where I live.
And English is no more your language than it is mine or any other American’s. My ancestors created the language every bit as much as yours did, and considering that American English is more linguistically conservative than British English, we have a better claim to the language than you do from a purist standpoint if you would like to go there. And for every one British speaker, there are 5 American speakers if you want to go that route too.
So sit down with your elitist bullshit.
LaraH39@reddit
There are HUNDREDS of dialects in the UK.
I use dialect myself. I knew what they are and how they perform and their function.
English, from ENGLAND part of the UK is very much our language. You don't speak English. You speak American English. The fact that you don't know that, explains a lot.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
You don’t speak English. You speak British English. The fact that you don’t know that. explains a lot.
GeneInternational146@reddit
Ok so making a blanket statement that "grammatical rules don't change" was incorrect. Thanks for confirming!
SCSP_70@reddit
It’s not “wrong” so much as it’s inappropriate in some situations.
LaraH39@reddit
No. Its just wrong. Things don't happen on accident, the word on makes no sense in relation to the word. Things happen BY accident.
There's no debate on this. It's incorrect.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Why does by make anymore sense here than on? Give your reasoning and provide a source too please. Would love to see what you can pull out of your ass here.
JunketAccurate@reddit
“By” is a preposition primarily used to indicate the agent performing an action (who did something), the means of doing something (how something is done) “On” is used as a preposition to indicate that something is positioned on the surface of something else, meaning it is touching the top of another object
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Which physical object’s surface is being touched in the phrase “on purpose” :)
JunketAccurate@reddit
That’s a darn good question
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Haha we love growth :D
LaraH39@reddit
None. That's the fucking point.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
So you say “by purpose”?
LaraH39@reddit
No. But I'm assuming you do lol
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
You just said you do babe
LaraH39@reddit
I did not
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Except you did. You said “that’s the point” in response to my critique of the argument that on can’t be used for anything other than physical position, implying you say something like “by purpose” instead of “on purpose.” Do try to keep up.
LaraH39@reddit
You don't think too well do you?
He's the long and short of it. It's "by accident". End of conversation.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Except that’s wrong. How well do you think?
LaraH39@reddit
More clearly and literately than you. And that's all I need lol
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Nope.
msflagship@reddit
Y’all Brits ain’t gonna wanna die on this hill. I reckon our languages are diverging.
LaraH39@reddit
They have been for a very long time.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Lmfao grammatical rules ABSOLUTELY change with time you genius. Or do you still gender every noun in the English language? Still decline all your adjectives according to case, number, and grammatical gender?
LaraH39@reddit
Absolute moron.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
🪞
deutschdachs@reddit
Ah yes our best region for grammar
JustMyTypo@reddit
It how so? My fiancée has this peeve, and since it was mentioned it has corrupted my memory as to which I’ve said in the past. I can’t reason which one is correct other than people saying “on accident” is wrong. \ \ Her reasoning was that the thing happened “by way of an accident.”\ \ My retort was that it happened “on account of an accident.”\ \ Both phrases are shortened to just the preposition and the word accident. Why is one preposition preferred?? How is it more than a preference?
ActorMonkey@reddit
It’s from “on purpose”. At least that’s my guess.
notanotherthrowacc@reddit
So you would say by purpose?
JustMyTypo@reddit
No, but I would say that I don’t see a logical or grammatical reason not to. Same argument as the post you replied to. \ \ Of course I don’t say either of the strange sounding versions. I just haven’t heard a good argument as to why.
LaraH39@reddit
It means "because of" so you can say, on account of the storm, a tree fell. Or... A tree was felled BY the storm.
Your gf is correct.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
How?
LaraH39@reddit
Look it up.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
No. Tell me why it’s wrong since you already know
LaraH39@reddit
I'm not your teacher and someone already has.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
You’re no one’s teacher and who already did it? Link it.
LaraH39@reddit
Someone already replied to you. Go read it.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
I did. It’s wrong.
LaraH39@reddit
Nope
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Wrong.
Dank-Retard@reddit
Master baiter right here
LaraH39@reddit
No. Just right.
ExtremeIndividual707@reddit
It's dialectical, colloquial. There's a place for that and all of us have phrases we use regularly that have no place in an academic paper.
LaraH39@reddit
It's not a dialect, it's not colloquial, it's simply wrong.
Just like "I could care less" is wrong" and "all of the sudden" and "for all intensive purposes" is wrong. It's just wrong.
Muvseevum@reddit
Oof.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Oof yourself. It’s perfectly normal.
Muvseevum@reddit
https://www.grammar.com/on_accident_vs._by_accident#:~:text=The%20correct%20phrase%20(adverb)%20to,referring%20to%20the%20same%20thing.
Spirited_Ingenuity89@reddit
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/articles/on-accident-versus-by-accident/
Muvseevum@reddit
https://www.vocabulary.com/articles/pardon-the-expression/by-accident-vs-on-accident/#:~:text=To%20remember%20the%20correct%20phrase,doesn't%20happen%20by%20accident!
My sources are better.
Spirited_Ingenuity89@reddit
They’re objectively not. Both your sources exhibit a prescriptivist view, which is inferior (linguistically speaking). Also, both seemed to be geared toward English language learners, which means they have limited applicability for native speakers.
If you actually read the article I linked, you will see that this is a currently evolving usage, and “on accident” is on the rise.
Muvseevum@reddit
I know about prescriptive vs descriptive. My point here isn’t that “on accident” is wrong; it’s that no professional copy editor will let it go into a piece of formal writing. It exists, but it’s also recognized as poor usage. Similar to “anyways”.
Spirited_Ingenuity89@reddit
“By accident” has also plummeted in writing. When I edit, I’d likely have them change either version to “accidentally.”
Maybe you mean “informal” here? Calling it “poor” puts a value judgement on the usage. And frankly it does communicate that you think it’s wrong. All dialects are created equal, so while something may be less prestigious/valued, it’s actually isn’t any “poorer” than any other type of English.
Muvseevum@reddit
Yep.
Spirited_Ingenuity89@reddit
At least you’re finally admitting your prescriptivism.
HonestLemon25@reddit
I've never heard anyone say by accident before. Always "on accident"
DrTenochtitlan@reddit
It definitely arose originally as a grammar error, combining "by accident" with "on purpose", and it's still considered grammatically incorrect. However, much like "ain't" or "irregardless", it's become extremely common.
HonestLemon25@reddit
Definitely not disagreeing on that, honestly had no clue it was incorrect. Is it possibly a regional thing? Or strictly generational?
DrTenochtitlan@reddit
It's absolutely generational, though it may have started as a regional thing.
PrincessPindy@reddit
I'm 65 from los angeles and I have always said "on accident." I don't think I've ever heard "by accident." Funny how it sounds weird to me.
SueNYC1966@reddit
In NY, it’s by accident.
PrincessPindy@reddit
That's so weird because both of my parents are native New Yorkers, lol.
Ghitit@reddit
I'm 67, from Altadena, and learned and always heard it at "by accident"
The regional theory dies.
cryptoengineer@reddit
Similar, 67 in MA.
PrincessPindy@reddit
Lol. It's probably more of where our parents are from. I still call it Tin Foil instead of aluminum...
Ghitit@reddit
Both of my parents were born in Los Angeles.
and tinsel! Loved that stuff!
LuftDrage@reddit
I hate tinsel. I find it…distracting.
SciGuy013@reddit
Both of my parents are too, and they both say on accident
Muvseevum@reddit
One counterexample doesn’t invalidate a whole theory.
swisssf@reddit
Any book, movie, TV show would say "by accident" - funny you'd not seen or heard that before!
Mistergardenbear@reddit
grammatically it's not incorrect, styalistically it is.
swisssf@reddit
Interestingly, you also say you aren't disagreeing on that, when it's disagreeing with that is grammatically correct. Maybe it is regional?
wolfysworld@reddit
I think it’s a bit of both; generational and regional. The Texas panhandle predominantly says “on accident”. I am over 50 and both my parents say “on accident” but where I moved as an adult I mostly hear “by accident”.
Mistergardenbear@reddit
"It definitely arose originally as a grammar error, combining "by accident" with "on purpose", and it's still considered grammatically incorrect. However, much like "ain't" or "irregardless", it's become extremely common."
none of those things are actually grammatically incorrect, they are however generally stylistically incorrect.
The way to think of it is: Grammar describes the way English is used. If a native speaker intentionally uses a term, and you can understand them, then it is probably grammatically correct. Especially if the construction has consistant and continuous use.
Style is the prescriptive rules we follow, which can varry by region or dialect. These are usually codified by bodies such as the Oxford Style Guide, Cicago Manual of Style, etc.
So things like using literally to mean figuratively are grammatically correct, and have the weight of 350 year of "consistant and continuous use" behind them, Fewer and less is another one, the whole idea that one is for counted and the other for uncounted nouns stems from a grammarian saying that he thought one sounded better then the other; ignoring their historical and common usage. These rule however, may be stylistically incorrect if you are using certain rulebooks to guide your writting.
PS "ain't" has been used for undreds of years at this point. The it "not a real word" thing comes from 19th century grammarians who thought it low class and tried to banish it. And that's the problem with prescriptivism, it is often used s a cudgle against those considered "low class" or parts of marginalized groups.
Itchy_Pillows@reddit
Apparently, irregardless had become acceptable
DrTenochtitlan@reddit
It's certainly acceptable in day-to-day language, just as "on accident" or "ain't" is. It's still discouraged in formal writing and published materials, because whenever possible it's expected that you use the most grammatically correct option available. For example, it's not good to use "irregardless" in a formal paper because it's a double negative of "regardless", which is always a better choice. Likewise, you could use "ain't", but "isn't" is grammatically correct and a better option.
Muvseevum@reddit
Can I ask what you are a professor of?
DrTenochtitlan@reddit
Certainly, I’m an associate professor of history, with a specialty in Latin America. I also occasionally do copy editing for dissertations and book publication in the field of history.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
And that matters why?
Itchy_Pillows@reddit
Sorry, can't get on board with "ain't" or "on accident".
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
No one asked you to. But refusing to acknowledge their use is ignorant at best.
Itchy_Pillows@reddit
I never said I don't hear people using these words just that they aren't considered grammatically correct and I cringe when I hear them used.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Except they are grammatically correct and cringing at how other people speak makes you an elitist dick.
Itchy_Pillows@reddit
No it doesn't and no they aren't.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Wrong.
tirednsleepyyy@reddit
Lol it’s straight up considered to be grammatically correct, now. Language evolves. Part of my brain winces at irregardless, but to argue over pedantic about it somehow being “less correct” is bizarre. Grammar is either correct, or it’s not.*
*Actually, from my understanding from university, most linguists these days trend more toward language being descriptive. Basically, the concept of grammatical “correctness” is a silly, arbitrary concept where different institutions and people will give different answers to, and what’s most important is how language is actually used by people.
DrTenochtitlan@reddit
You're confusing grammatically correct with a professional style guide used for formal writing. It can be grammatically correct for ordinary usage, but not correct for something like MLA style, APA style, or Chicago Manual of Style as they are "non-standard" words. For example, while the Chicago Manual of Style recognizes "irregardless" as a genuine word, it still cites it as an error for professional writing and to use "regardless" or "irrespective" instead.
tirednsleepyyy@reddit
I’m not confusing anything. Even those style guides are often inconsistent with one another. I couldn’t find anything about irregardless from the APA, or MLA, and frankly, can’t imagine they care very much considering the point of them isn’t to police specific word choice, but broad organizational and formatting structure for academic writing.
Even if all 3 of them denounced the word, it’s not exactly like they’re the standard of “professional” writing, whatever that means. Considering the completely disparate ideas of what “professional” entails from company to company, I can only imagine the standard is language used academic writing, and for that, there’s hardly one at all. Other than a few very particular words that are policed heavily, like “significant.”
DrTenochtitlan@reddit
APA is used by the American Psychological Association, the medical profession, nursing, educators, in business publications, engineering and engineering publications, communications, and most government publications, where it is vitally important to use the most precise words possible. When given several correct options for words, you are always to use the MOST correct and precise term.
MLA stands for the Modern Language Association format. It is used by professional writers and students in the humanities, especially in English, literature, foreign languages, and literary criticism.
The Chicago Manual of Style is used by professions involved in writing, editing, and publishing, particularly in the fields of history, art, humanities, social sciences, and religion, and among professionals like editors, publishers, historians, researchers, archivists, curators, and librarians. It shares much in common with MLA format, but it is the preferred standard for major publishing companies. It literally IS considered the standard for professional writing. It is also required in the law profession, although they additionally use what is known as Bluebook Style specifically for citations.
Newspapers use their own format, known as AP (Associated Press) style. It was designed to emphasize consistency, clarity, accuracy, and brevity. As such, it is important to use the most accurate words possible.
Almost all major careers that require writing follow an English style guide of some sort that is required for their publications. My students would never be hired in their professions if they didn't write their documents according to the style guide proper to their particular job.
Muvseevum@reddit
Not acceptable in formal writing. The dictionary recognizes nonstandard usages, but usually notes that they might not be acceptable to some. In Web11, look up often and see what it says about pronouncing it with the “t” (off-ten).
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Calling it an error is a bit disingenuous because we don’t say by purpose. It’s just a form of linguistic change caused by analogy.
AAZEROAN@reddit
Ain’t isn’t grammatical incorrect. It just got slandered
https://www.thesaurus.com/e/grammar/aint-amnt-haint-baint/
AUniquePerspective@reddit
Yeah, I could care less.
HereWeGoAgainWTBS@reddit
How much less could you care?
Wetald@reddit
About two shits less
alloutofbees@reddit
There's really nothing that makes it "grammatically incorrect"; language is only defined by usage. If something can be done on purpose, there's really no reason it can't be done on accident. Prepositions are a particularly arbitrary area of English, and if it were a grammatical matter there would be no reason we don't say "by purpose".
chewbooks@reddit
My dad used to smack me while saying something about never saying ‘by purpose’ so it’s always ‘on accident’. I can’t remember the exact phrase but the smack did make me remember to use it correctly.
SueNYC1966@reddit
As a NYer, & have never heard on accident either. Mostly people say accidentally or by accident.
BingBongDingDong222@reddit
How old are you? This is insane to me. I mean, I believe you. And language isn't necessarily "wrong" or "right." It evolves and changes. But I'm 51 and have said "by accident" by whole life. Everyone I know has always said "by accident." But I've heard more and more "on accident" over the past few years. The shift is interesting to me, even if it sounds like nails on a chalkboard.
swisssf@reddit
There may not be wrong or right but there is objectively correct grammar, and by accident is correct. Language does change and it also devolves...
Spirited_Ingenuity89@reddit
Not the way you mean it. “Correct grammar” is merely a reflection of usage. Native speakers use the “on accident” construction, ergo, it’s correct.
I’m not even sure what this means. How is English now worse than, say, Old English or Middle English or Early Modern English? By what metric are you measuring its quality?
Santasreject@reddit
I noticed it starting in fellow millennials in the 2000s, maybe not wide spread but for sure was starting to happen. Drove me absolutely nuts then and still does. But it does seem to be getting adopted more and more by younger generations.
jennyrules@reddit
I've been saying "on accident" for 41 years, but I not southern.
Hematomawoes@reddit
I grew up in the Midwest and I have heard “on accident” more so.
ExtremePotatoFanatic@reddit
Yeah I’m from Michigan and I’m pretty sure that most people here (myself included) say “on accident”. It doesn’t seem to be an age thing here either (I’m 29 for context)
Hematomawoes@reddit
Also from Michigan lol. Maybe it’s an us thing? Ope!
Exciting-Hedgehog944@reddit
Midwest, on accident more common here
MamaMoosicorn@reddit
Same
deutschdachs@reddit
Pennsyltucky does a good southern cosplay
AlaskanMinnie@reddit
Might be a PA thing? I grew up there & say it too
wojo1962@reddit
I'm originally from Pittsburgh area and I've always said "by accident"
tiger_guppy@reddit
Seconded, I’m from the philly region, I say on accident.
MAT_123_@reddit
Disagree! I’m from Philly and nobody I know says “on accident,” but I’m old!
vanillabitchpudding@reddit
I’m from Philly, over 40, and say “on accident”
lizziewritespt2@reddit
My family is from there, and I've heard plenty of people in my parents' generation say "on accident". I was born in the late 90s, for reference.
OverCommunity3994@reddit
I grew up 60 miles from PGH, and I’ve been saying “on accident” for nearly 38 years. I didn’t even know this was a thing?
Ezira@reddit
Pittsburghese is its own language lol. I legitimately feel like I code-switch with it. I'd probably casually say "on accident" if just talking to a local, but would never put it in writing or say it in a formal conversation.
swisssf@reddit
do you also say "yins"?
DrTenochtitlan@reddit
It's *definitely* generational where I live. Almost everyone under 25 uses it, have yet to hear someone over 25 use it.
PalpatineForEmperor@reddit
Grew up in part of PA where "on accident" was very common. Now I live in the other side of the state where everyone says "by accident".
kawmiekuma@reddit
Yes, interestingly enough on accident feels more natural to me even though it would feel out of place on a paper to a professor, maybe because I’m toeing the line at age 24.
Positive-Focus2850@reddit
I use accidentally
Reading_Rainboner@reddit
35 year old dude with a bachelors in the Midwest totally saying On Accident 9 out of 10 times
SnoWhiteFiRed@reddit
As someone older than that, nope. Myself (also from and in the south) and most people I know have always said "on accident". If I wrote on paper, I'd probably correct to "accidentally" before I would "by accident". The latter sounds very weird to me.
Flat_Loquat_4819@reddit
Same. If I am just talking in conversation, I most definitely say “on accident” but if I’m writing, I correct it to “accidentally” or just say “It was an accident.” For example, if my kids are fighting, I would ask, “Well was it on accident or on purpose?” But if I write it, I would quote, “Did you hit him on purpose or was it an accident?”
OnMyVeryBestBehavior@reddit
Whatever.
“MYSELF” is not a subject pronoun.
You and most people you know are grammatical idiots.
AKA: idiots.
Dippity_Dont@reddit
Also from the south and I have literally NEVER heard anyone say "on accident." If I did, I would think them barely literate.
SnoWhiteFiRed@reddit
I'm sure you're perfectly fine with someone saying "on purpose" which makes just as little sense as "on accident" but people are "barely literate" because it's not what you're accustomed to hearing? Almost sounds like you're just need to feel superior to others but I don't know you like that so I'll just assume you're unreasonably pedantic instead.
vim_deezel@reddit
depends on what part of the country you live in. "On accident" is more popular in the south but is generally considered bad grammar when writing.
Spirited_Ingenuity89@reddit
The literature seems to support your observations, but it’s definitely people more than 25 years old. And as someone almost 20 years older than that, I know I use “on accident.” (Though I’m not clear on my distribution. Like I’m not sure if use it exclusively or switch between the “on” and “by” variants.)
llynglas@reddit
As in, "he broke the vase on accident"? Brit living in NJ and don't think I have ever heard that. Sounds awful (in a non judgemental way)
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
You can’t just say something completely judgmental and then say “in a non judgmental way” lmao. I think your face is absolutely hideous, no offense.
llynglas@reddit
You obviously missed the British sarcasm. It's hard for less British cultured people to detect. ( /s /s /s ).
And, my face is hideous, so no offense taken.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Americans like sarcasm to be notably ridiculous, I have noticed that difference in our cultures. Brits will say something that could reasonably be taken seriously and mean the exact opposite, expecting you to just somehow infer that it’s sarcasm.
Americans will exaggerate to the point that you have to be actually vegetive in the head to take our sarcasm seriously, and I’ve still seen brits fail to grasp the sarcasm. We even have a specific tone that’s only used for sarcasm that seems nearly universal among Americans.
It’s pretty interesting to me how despite sharing a common language, our versions of sarcasm seem to just completely fly over the other’s heads lol
llynglas@reddit
It's also getting harder. People's cultural views that were once unsaid in public, blacks are dumb, gays molest kids, handicapped should not have children, are now being spoken by the right wing almost as truths. So what I would have thought of in the past as a statement so outrageous that it was obviously sarcasm can now be much more easily interpreted as my honest view.
SonoranRoadRunner@reddit
Exactly just like the term used to be "calling in sick" now it's "calling out sick". So stupid. You call in to the office. But obviously youth doesn't understand the concept.
notanotherthrowacc@reddit
22 and I say by accident, on purpose.
carlton_sings@reddit
I think “on accident” is more of a country thing because it’s always been common in my rural region of California
Aggravating-Guest-12@reddit
It's not just the south, I'm in the semi-north near DC and it's said all the time. I'm 20 and id say 70% of kids my age say "on". Its so annoying 😂
GeneInternational146@reddit
Anyone north of the Mason-Dixon still considers this the south I'm sorry to say
Aggravating-Guest-12@reddit
Lol! That's the yankee's problem not mine!😂
GeneInternational146@reddit
It was a shock to me when I moved from Maryland to New York 😂
Aggravating-Guest-12@reddit
Same!
TGIIR@reddit
It is annoying!
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Why
sprout92@reddit
I'm 32 and don't think I've ever heard someone say "by accident" so maybe it's more regional than age.
Ok_Hotel_1008@reddit
Almost 30 here, I def say on accident, so...
JimBowen0306@reddit
As a Brit living in the South and working with students, I’d probably agree, though I might be more attuned to it, because of my antipathy to the phrase.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Your dialect has weird quirks too just fyi.
JimBowen0306@reddit
No argument from me.
UrLittleVeniceBitch_@reddit
The kids’ linguistic abilities are getting…worse
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Yes! Any year now we’ll revert back to just talking like cavemen! Any day now… surely after tens of thousands of years language would’ve already simplified as much as it was ever going to if that’s how language worked at all, right? Right?!
pillingz@reddit
Same with the use of whenever. That one drives me insane.
anfadhfaol@reddit
I am 32 and use on accident and it drives my also 32 year old friend up the wall. Grammar changes and prescriptive linguistics is bs so I'm not changing 🤷♂️
swisssf@reddit
You do you -- and don't mind that, to some purists, "on accident" sounds ignorant.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Purists voicing their ignorant opinions sounds ignorant to me.
PlanMagnet38@reddit
College professor here, and I grew up exclusively using “by” but now use both pretty equally.
pigeontheoneandonly@reddit
I'm 41 and I've only ever heard on accident from Americans. My UK colleagues use by accident and it always sounds weird to me. I think this is probably regional.
DrTenochtitlan@reddit
It very well could be regional. I'm originally from Minnesota, and I'd never heard anyone say "on accident" until about a decade ago, after I moved to the South.
Muvseevum@reddit
See, I hear it from Iowa and Illinois relatives.
Sad-Chocolate2911@reddit
Iowa, Illinois & Minnesota may all technically be in the Midwest, but make no mistake—we are different. I say by accident. (I’m 50, lifelong Minnesotan)
What to the folks in Wisconsin say?
Side note, “On accident” sounds like something cutesy a child character would say on a 1950s sitcom, like The Beaver, trying to get out of some sort of trouble.
kelkiemcgelkie@reddit
My dad and I have talked about this years ago. We live in the South and we also concluded that it seems generational with younger people saying "on accident" more than "by accident"
FoRealDoh@reddit
They say "on god" instead of "by god" /s
bdone2012@reddit
In God we trust /s
hydraheads@reddit
I've noticed hearing it more and more. Previously I thought of it as a northeast NJ regionalism akin to standing on line.
itsjustmefortoday@reddit
It's YouTube. My 8 year old daughter now says on accident. I've decided to ignore it 😂
frijolita_bonita@reddit
I say by accident. I must be old. Oh wait, I am!
krycek1984@reddit
Thinking about my usage, I use both depending on the rest of the sentence contact. But honestly, more likely "on" to be honest. 40 yo Ohioan here.
Water-is-h2o@reddit
Hi I’m a 32 year old who just found out I’m under 25
chayashida@reddit
Heard on a linguistics podcast that it appears to be generational, but much older than the 25 year old age you’re citing.
I think the on/by distinction was being taught by my mother in the 80’s, and it was already commonplace in CA to use both.
sjedinjenoStanje@reddit
It looks like on accident is *more common in the UK* than it is in the US.
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/on_accident
Ethereal-Storm@reddit
I've never said "on accident." It's a weird relationship though, kind of like being "ashamed of" something, but for some reason "embarrassed of" doesn't sound right to me. I would say "embarrassed about," or it "embarrassed me."
swisssf@reddit
What about "embarrassed by"?
Ethereal-Storm@reddit
Yes, this too.
lrkt88@reddit
I say embarrassed by (…falling down the stairs) or embarrassed that (…they saw me fall).
Z3DUBB@reddit
On embarrassed
Cormorant_Bumperpuff@reddit
By embarrassment
Ethereal-Storm@reddit
lol
EmotionalFlounder715@reddit
I’d say embarrassed by
MoonCat269@reddit
I say embarrassed by or ashamed of.
_artbabe95@reddit
I think people are drawing a parallel to the inverse, "on purpose." I do say "by accident" though, even if it seems arbitrary, especially next to its opposite.
LingonberryPrior6896@reddit
Very common in New England.
Jorost@reddit
I am an elementary school faculty member from northeastern Massachusetts. Our kids are taught that it’s “by accident.” “On accident” is (gently) corrected every time.
LingonberryPrior6896@reddit
I tried that for years when I taught in Vermont. However, my colleagues said on accident as well.
LingonberryPrior6896@reddit
Must be a Vermont thing. I grew up in Midwest and was shocked at everyone who said it-esp my students who were always doing things "on accident".
tiger_guppy@reddit
I say on accident. I’m from the greater Philly area.
IllustriousArcher199@reddit
I grew up in Philadelphia and I say by accident. I’ve heard Black people say on accident. I just assumed it was a southern thing they brought with them during the Great Migration. Sort of like they say y’all instead of you and axe instead of ask.
MoonCat269@reddit
I have lived in central and northwestern CT, western MA, and northern Maine. I have never heard anyone say "on accident" in person. I have only heard it on TV and in movies.
Jorost@reddit
This. North Shore of Mass. here and the only time I ever hear is kids and they get corrected every time lol.
BottleTemple@reddit
I grew up on the South Shore and it was “by accident” there too.
Capital-Swim2658@reddit
Really? I have lived in central Massachusetts most of my life, and I honestly have never noticed whether anyone says "on accident" or "by accident." I don't even notice how I say it myself.
LaLizarde@reddit
Boston area, it was by accident.
LingonberryPrior6896@reddit
Maybe just VT. Lived there for 31 years.
BottleTemple@reddit
I grew up in New England and I go back frequently. In my experience, “on accident” is uncommon there.
vj_c@reddit
I think the perception of it as an Americanism is because we mostly only ever hear it on American TV/Film/YouTube - I don't think I've heard "on accident" in British TV/Film/YouTubers. So we should probably blame Hollywood execs who make their characters say "on accident" when virtually no one either side of the pond says it.
sjedinjenoStanje@reddit
There those Hollywood execs go again, making their characters say strange things 🙄
Rare-Bumblebee-1803@reddit
I live in the UK I have never said on accident. No one I know has ever said it.
moomoo10012002@reddit
I have lived in the UK my whole life and have never heard anyone say "on accident". I've only ever seen it said on social media.
It may be that they say it in Scotland, wales or NI more than they say it in England. Or in certain parts of England, and that is why people think it's american.
Mousehole_Cat@reddit
I spent the first 27 years of my life in the UK and never heard "on accident". I first heard it in the US.
PeanutterButter101@reddit
My dad was from England and that's how I always said it despite being born and raised in the US.
Joseph_Suaalii@reddit
Holy smokes what a burn 🔥
poortomato@reddit
This is my shocked face.
TheCloudForest@reddit
The killer here is that this comment is backed up by actual corpus linguistics data.
PsyCar@reddit
I say "accidentally"
Business-Flamingo-82@reddit
Both but mostly by TBH I couldn’t tell you why I choose one or the other.
Hyper_Noxious@reddit
I went to type "on accident" and my phone wants to correct it to "by accident", if that clears it up for you.
gladheisgone@reddit
I always said and heard “on accident” growing up in the Seattle area, and then started hearing “by accident” when I moved to the Northeast
BH_Gobuchul@reddit
On mistake
Remote-Patient-1214@reddit
On accident sounds dumb, like pronouncing a th at the end of height. Just sucks but they will probably win. Merica.
_S1syphus@reddit
On accident or an accident, almost never by accident
SueNYC1966@reddit
By accident
Santasreject@reddit
As an American it is BY accident. When someone says “on accident” they sound like a child who has not learned to speak yet.
By accident, and on purpose. That’s it, if you say it any other way as a native English speaker you sound like an absolute fool and I will judge you as such.
Adventurous_Candy125@reddit
The correct grammar is “by accident”.
hoaryvervain@reddit
It’s regional, just like how people say “in line” or “on line” to signify waiting in a queue.
DabbledInPacificm@reddit
Both
Amockdfw89@reddit
I usually say “on accident” when talking about myself but “by accident” when referring to someone else
“I bought the wrong size shoes by accident”
“He bought the wrong size shoes on accident”
SnooChipmunks2079@reddit
I usually say “accidentally.”
But between the two, “by.”
Arcane_Pozhar@reddit
"on accident" sounds like a toddler learning English to me. From New York, have traveled the USA with the military, and have not heard it much, but... Who knows, maybe I just never was at the right bases. Also, I'm sure we used more creative, official terms to describe accidents, so the phrase wouldn't have many occasions to pop up, I suppose.
w33b2@reddit
I think I’ve heard two people say “on accident” in my life, and I’ve lived in America my whole life. Everyone I know says “by accident.” Brits want to hate on anything, I swear.
manicpixidreamgirl04@reddit
by accident
IOUAndSometimesWhy@reddit
definitely by accident. I've heard "on accident" before, but I feel like mostly from young children?
LatverianBrushstroke@reddit
My kids would say “He did it by purpose!”
ZerotheWanderer@reddit
"Accididn't"
cryssylee90@reddit
Forever using this 😂
OnMyVeryBestBehavior@reddit
Then teach them!
Massive_Robot_Cactus@reddit
Heh, my kids say "what about" instead of "how about" when suggesting an activity (in every situation, never using "how about") and it's quite irksome. We live in an immigrant ghetto in Switzerland though and they speak with Irish and British kids as well as second language learners, kids borrowing from German, Italian, Swiss German, etc. Huge wonderful mess hearing them speak.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
It’s literally not wrong?! What is with you people.
Fancy_Locksmith7793@reddit
I think it’s generational or regional
I’m 74 from the East Coast so it’s “by accident” and “on accident” annoys
Happy_Confection90@reddit
My dad drilled into our heads by age 5 that it's on purpose and by accident, and never the reverse.
TSells31@reddit
Definitely more of a young children thing I’m pretty sure.
catbehindbars@reddit
I hear a lot of idiot adults say it. My #1 harmless pet peeve.
TSells31@reddit
Oooof, yeah that would drive me crazy. I have an irrational annoyance for native speaking adults who don’t speak basic English properly. Now I’m worried that it’s actually something that happens more often, and now I’m going to start to notice, and it will also bug me lmao.
Spirited_Ingenuity89@reddit
This is a basic misunderstanding of how language works. Native speakers may make mistakes (like a typo), but they don’t make errors. The way a native speaker uses English is “proper,” definitionally. You are making a value judgement about the type of English that this person speaks, but linguistically, all dialects are created equal.
TSells31@reddit
Native speakers don’t make errors? What? So if I say “semi trucks fuck house dollar” when I really mean “semi trucks haul heavy loads”, I’m automatically correct because I speak English natively? That’s not how it works. Words do have meaning. Native speakers can (and do) use the wrong word ALL THE TIME.
Spirited_Ingenuity89@reddit
No, they make mistakes.
No, because you alone don’t determine the meanings of words. I mean you could, but then you can’t expect to communicate with other people in English because you would have essentially created your own language.
Of course words have meaning, but misspeaking the wrong word isn’t the same as “not speaking English properly.” Like if I accidentally say “I slept the floor,” it’s like a verbal typo. But someone calling a vacuum a “sweeper” is a regional variation no different than Brits calling a sweater a “jumper” or a cookie a “biscuit.” The first is a mistake, the second is neither a mistake nor an error. An error is a non-native English speaker saying “I sweeped the floor.”
Yes, to make sure that their writing complies with the publication’s style guide. A style guide generally isn’t making a statement about right and wrong but about style and what’s appropriate for their publication.
I know; I’m an English teacher.
You kind of did. Also, what makes English “perfect”?
No, it’s based on a descriptivist view of language structure and an understanding of dialect prestige.
Not in linguistics.
Nope. Just trying to correct all the linguistic misunderstandings throughout this thread. All dialects are created equal. None are inherently better than another. Some are just valued more by society.
twxf@reddit
It's a minor dialect difference. I use both interchangeably, and have never even heard of people having a preference one way or the other before reading this thread. Take this example:
"You have to drive over the mountains to get to Reno." "You have to drive through the mountains to get to Reno."
Annoyance at someone saying "on accident" is essentially like getting annoyed by someone using one of the above sentences over the other. It's a minor preposition change that doesn't alter the meaning of the sentence, and it doesn't affect your ability to understand them, so why let it bother you?
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
I say on accident by purpose to prove to the real “idiot adults” that linguistic prescriptivism is just elitist bullshit.
Seriously, fuck anyone that forms opinions about other people based on simple dialect differences.
Tough_Antelope5704@reddit
Go around sounding ignorant and see how far it gets you. Good luck speaking like an "idiot child."
Icy_Pizza_7941@reddit
Trump
RocktheGlasshouse@reddit
Thank you for this comment. Seriously. The idea that you’re better or smarter than someone else because of how you were taught to speak in school is just another form of bias and discrimination. The most brilliant minds in the world don’t just belong to those who look and talk like you, if you really open your eyes up to see them.
FitCheetah2507@reddit
I think "on accident" is either a regional dialect or AAVE thing. Makes sense young kids would pick it up from social media and bring it more into the mainstream.
manicpixidreamgirl04@reddit
I've heard it but I was always told that it's wrong
CrazyQuiltCat@reddit
I always hear it and never was told it’s wrong
enstillhet@reddit
I hear it from adults. And it always sounds wrong to me. I say by accident. Always.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
And other adults say on accident. Welcome to the wonderful world of linguistic diversity!
enstillhet@reddit
I'm not sure what your point is. I said it sounds wrong to me. That's a personal opinion. I'm not making any judgment on the linguistic merits of one over the other, and I'm well aware of linguistic diversity, dialects, etc.
Where I'm from people say by accident and so on accident just sounds wrong to me.
Utterlybored@reddit
It’s the opposite of “on purpose” for those learning the language.
Awkward_Apartment680@reddit
When I lived in California, I heard a lot of adults say it. In Florida and NYC though, only young children. So maybe it's more prevalent in the West?
ChapterOk4000@reddit
I think so. I am from NY originally and always say by accident, now I live in California and everyone says on accident. I can't stand it.
Doortofreeside@reddit
I always thought on accident was a NYC thing
Like standing on line
manicpixidreamgirl04@reddit
it's not
spute2@reddit
And on purpose.
It has never been on accident.
Great indictment of any education system where this is tolerated
Spirited_Ingenuity89@reddit
Except when it is? The only static language is a dead language. “On accident” is a new-ish (at least 30 years old) usage, but it’s a natural evolution created and perpetuated by native English speakers.
I’m a HS English teacher in PA, and I can tell you that teaching dialect prescriptivism isn’t best practice. Also, linguistically, all dialects are created equal, so no, there’s nothing inherently inferior or superior about different dialects other than the prestige our society grants them.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Even greater indictment of any grown adult that gets bent out of shape over small dialect differences in other people’s speech.
spute2@reddit
That's not dialect. That's just incorrect fucking English. Bad grammar if anything
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Ain’t my problem that you don’t understand the words you’re using.
spute2@reddit
Says the guy from Alabama. Where everyone knows you have the best English comprehension, and dialect!
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Dialects aren’t incorrect. And I won’t be taking any shit from someone too cowardly to put a flair with their state in it here :)
nylondragon64@reddit
I don't think I ever said on accident my entire life.
manicpixidreamgirl04@reddit
Some people might say 'on accident' by accident, but I never have either
cryssylee90@reddit
Depends on the context. I’ve used both.
Ok_Sundae2107@reddit
by
Miles_Everhart@reddit
Both
MrGooseCreek@reddit
"by accident", I've never heard anyone say "on accident"
Seattleman1955@reddit
I've never heard it used that way but maybe it's more of a Midwest thing? They say something "needs repaired" instead "needs to be repaired".
What's wrong with "reckon"? It's not really a word:) OK, informal slang. Is is paired with "ain't"? I reckon I ain't gonna git home in time fer supper...:)
Artlawprod@reddit
I say "by accident" my 15 year old (who is growing up in the same area I did) says "on accident". I don't know where I went wrong as a parent.
LilyFlower52@reddit
I say “on accident”. Saying “by accident” even in my head sounds weird
12sea@reddit
When my sister was 5 she said this until my brother and I gently (and by that I mean we completely and mercilessly made fun of her).
Zestyclose-Fondant-7@reddit
Hoosiers say on
oosheknows@reddit
I am a southerner born 1998 and typically say On accident, but have noticed i will occasionally say By accident without really knowing why I’m switching it
shadowmib@reddit
"accidentally".
ie. I dropped the hammer accidentally
Sad_Ice8946@reddit
American here: by accident
Excellent_You5494@reddit
NAEV and standard English are two different Vernaculars.
anxnymous926@reddit
I cannot stand “on accident.” It makes people who say it sound like toddlers.
amazonchic2@reddit
By accident
Kiloth44@reddit
Accidentally
RanjuMaric@reddit
"Accidentally"
zdillon67@reddit
If I did it, it’s on accident. If someone else did it, it’s by accident; I have no idea why, but this is my rule.
Advanced-Ladder-6532@reddit
Oppsie.
GEEK-IP@reddit
"By accident." If I see "on accident" I immediately consider that person not terribly bright.
whip_lash_2@reddit
I’ve seen this come up in Ask Australia as well and every American including me replied “by accident”. I’m not sure where the impression that this is a thing came from. Maybe they do it in some pocket region of America somewhere.
justmekab60@reddit
On accident is a grammatical error that has worked its way into the language. Similar to "I seen it".
Yet another reason those of us on the left coast feel superior to other regions of the country haha. Leave us to our judgment.
Rude_Parsnip306@reddit
I say "by accident". I've noticed a terrible trend of "on accident," which makes my eyes and ears hurt. I just keep reminding myself that language is ever evolving, whether I agree or not.
Sea_Candidate8738@reddit
depends on the situation
falanian@reddit
Id correct either of these to 'accidentally' in my head.
MrLongWalk@reddit
"by accident"
Falco-Rusticolus@reddit
I’d love to hear some of the rumors there are/were about us Americans.
MrLongWalk@reddit
Americans call every vehicle, regardless of size, a "truck"
Americans don't differentiate between newspapers, magazines, or comic books
Americans don't have a polite word for "excuse me", "excuse me" is seen as passive aggressive
It's normal to pray midway through most conversations
If you don't call somebody sir or ma'am its considered normal for them to threaten you physically
Americans can't tell where most British people are from, if its not an RP accent, they don't recognize it
Falco-Rusticolus@reddit
Thanks for providing this. That’s pretty mind-blowing to me. I do think the last one is probably true for a major chunk of Americans, but all the other ones I’ve never heard and find hilarious. Especially the truck one and the excuse me one.
MrLongWalk@reddit
So if its not an RP BBC accent, Americans have no idea what country they're from?
Joseph_Suaalii@reddit
That very post OP was referring to on another sub is full of Brits getting angry over the ‘Americanization’ of their citizens speaking in American slangs, some extremes are even getting angry to the point of even proudly proclaiming they straight up physically assaulting people for using American slangs
Just comes to show how unhinged the average redditor is compared to the person IRL
FakeNathanDrake@reddit
There's a certain type of terminally online British Redditor that will decry anything different from their own dialect as an "Americanism", even when that's clearly bullshit.
It's a weekly occurrence on UK subreddits when someone has a tantrum over the use of "high school" in the UK, claiming that it's an Americanism, when we've literally got schools with "high school" in their name that predate the colonisation of the Americas!
Likewise claiming that "janitor" is an American word. FFS Nigel, not everyone speaks like they're from your specific corner of England.
MrLongWalk@reddit
It’s not just redditors, I’ve had to deal with a ton of it from Brits IRL
BottleTemple@reddit
Those people are hilarious. They’re obsessed with thinking they own the English language, despite the fact that the English they speak is not how it was spoken a few hundred years ago. Also, of course, spreading one’s language around the globe via colonialism clearly leads to losing ownership of it.
Joseph_Suaalii@reddit
British reddit hates rugby lads as well for some reason
MrLongWalk@reddit
I dealt with Brits for years (still have to sometimes) I can absolutely see them getting that worked up about it.
Bundt-lover@reddit
Brits getting worked up about the Americanization of their speech is literally why their accent is non-rhotic. They changed it so they wouldn’t be mistaken for the rubes in the colonies.
BottleTemple@reddit
Boston had the last laugh then.
vj_c@reddit
There's loads of rhotic regional British accents, btw - the whole of the South West, parts of Hampshire (actually most of Hampshire retains some rhotic aspects) all the way to the West Midlands have lots of rhotic accents - it's the South East Midlands & the North that aren't rhotic.
If you map it out, it actually aligns pretty closely to the Viking invasion of Britain, I suspect that was a bigger factor driving the loss of rhotic English than social pressures from the colonies because the US accent has a lot of influence from South West English. If there was any social pressure - it's more from caricatures of South West farmers as unintelligible idiots (See Hot Fuzz and the joke lasts to this day).
The "pirate accent" is also heavily influenced by SW English accents!
palishkoto@reddit
Well obviously those Redditors are also real people, but the vast majority of us irl get no more annoyed about the US than the vast majority of Americans irl do about British people asking about red cups or the other tropes on this sub.
whistful_flatulence@reddit
The red cup thing is distinctive. It can get old, but it’s understandable. Same with the hackneyed conversations around yellow school busses and not viewing healthcare as a right.
No one outside of England thinks that superior verbal abilities are a uniquely English trait.**
I’ve noticed that the majority of the linguistic hissy fitting comes from people who clearly do not understand how language, let alone dialects, work. It’s typically followed up by something something we invented the language, which doesn’t make sense, as linguistics aren’t hereditary. Even if they were, many North Americans (and aussies, kiwis, Canadians, etc) would still inherit these alleged superior abilities. And if you want to get into it, my ozark dialect is closer to Shakespeare’s than any currently in use in GB. Do you really think that makes my English more valid than yours? Of course not, because linking mastery of the language to an imaginary purer time in its evolution is just silly. Especially because if we’re going to get historical, then we need to discuss why there are so many supposedly inferior anglophonic countries, which isn’t exactly a story of British moral or intellectual superiority. So the entire tired argument is nationalistic, hypocritical, and just bad.
And to be fair, I think it comes from the English, not all the British. I think the Scotts, welsh, etc can be broadly left out of this obnoxious and baselessly arrogant online habit.
**If anything, it’s Aussie, given the incredible abbrevs they come up with.
vj_c@reddit
It's not about superior verbal ability - it's about the hegmonisation - regional accents & dialects, even as recently as the '90s changed basically every 30 miles or so. This just about hangs on, but "Americanisation" is more about Hollywood replacing regional sayings than anything else.
People feel a sense of loss - to be fair to Hollywood, it's SSB (Standard Southern British) as much as American sayings that's causing it & it's not really causing it. For example MLE (multicultural London English) is a newer accent that's thriving.
Not to mention, once you start to look at it, there's large numbers of Britishisims that have started to enter the US lexicon - not just recently through the likes of Peppa Pig & things we share with the Aussies via Bluey. But historically, we've exported quite a lot - there's a great blog on it: https://notoneoffbritishisms.com/
I agree most of the stuff comes from people who don't understand how linguistics works, but equal to the "We invented English" people, you can find as many Americans claiming English as their language alone. I actually suspect there's a mix of a large number of people trolling eachother & cultural linguistic misunderstandings too.
If we were really as annoyed as many on Reddit pretend, you wouldn't hear as much about it. Understatement, irony & sarcasm are the more usual responses to the things we actually don't like. If we're being bluntly & overly insulting, we're (usually) exaggerating, mostly for comic affect. It's when we like you, that we swear at you & tease you worst (much like you only know you've made friends with an Aussie once he's called you a c***)
So an American asking on a British sub about Americans is going to be mercilessly mocked - in good humour from a British pov, but many Americans will take it more seriously.
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/dec/16/americans-irony-no-joke-new-york-times-petty-crime
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20151109-english-speakers-or-not-brits-and-americans-swear-in-different-languages
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_understatement
palishkoto@reddit
You've not had the pleasure or r/Scotland or r/Ireland then going on about 'the Yanks'! It's another strange online habit to claim that the diverse 50 million-ish people of England are more likely to be 'insert bad trait' than the 8 million living in Scotland who have often also worked in England, have English ancestors, etc.
Lower_Neck_1432@reddit
The whole red Solo cup is because it was pervasive in movies and television from the 1990s-2000, because it was used to hide non-existant liquid from the viewer or to mask the presence of alcohol to sensitive MPAA raters.
MrLongWalk@reddit
this has not been my experience, at all
RyouIshtar@reddit
I'm picturing old UKers screaming about the UK kids talking about rizz and alpha and whatever the kids are saying nowadays lol
Additional-Sea-540@reddit
My grandma was Irish and she hated when I said on accident so now I say by accident lol
Avbitten@reddit
on accident if the outcome was bad, by accident if the outcome was good.
hamoc10@reddit
Accidentally.
HotCowPie@reddit
The more I think about it, the less sure I am about which I use lol. Both sound right to me honestly
I think I usually say "accidentally" in place of either
myrainydayss@reddit
On accident. I was born early 2000s
The_Windermere@reddit
By accident. On accident would imply that you intentionally laid the cards down to mage the accident happen.
Ok-Technology8336@reddit
"accidentally"
RainMH11@reddit
Yeah, I'm so bemused by this whole post. I would say "I accidentally (did x)" or maybe "it was an accident."
positivelydeepfried@reddit
All the people arguing about “by accident” or “on accident” should know this is the actually correct way to say it.
FutureRenaissanceMan@reddit
Accidentally
BSB8728@reddit
By.
Smart-Stupid666@reddit
I say by accident. That's the only way to say it correctly. Everyone else is being lazy.
joanarmageddon@reddit
BY.
Prize_Consequence568@reddit
*"Do you say “on accident” or “by accident”?""
Yes.
marcus_frisbee@reddit
American and I have never heard anybody say on accident
AnythingNext3360@reddit
Never really thought about it. Both sound correct. I think I typically say "accidentally"
Fat_TroII@reddit
Now that you asked I can't remember lol. I know I have said both before though.
plushieshoyru@reddit
I say both! It seems like a rather innocuous thing to have such a strong opinion about (re: the “multiple comments”), but to each their own. 🙂
shittyswordsman@reddit
Maybe a west coast thing? I'm from Portland and have spent a lot of time in Seattle and SF and it seems like people mostly use them interchangeably
plushieshoyru@reddit
I was raised in Florida, but in my adult life I have lived in several states along both coasts. I’m not sure I’m a reliable data point. 🙂
kiwigyoza@reddit
I’ve lived in New England my whole life and I’m 33 and say both. I also call a remote a clicker so who knows lol.
twxf@reddit
Also from the Bay Area and same. It wouldn't occur to me that people would have an issue with "on accident" compared to "by accident". They both mean the same thing.
ExcellentWeather@reddit
Count a third Bay Area who feels the same! I find I use "on accident" while speaking and "by accident" while writing; I was born in 2000 if it makes a difference.
Chance-Business@reddit
I only just started hearing "on accident" recently, like in the past decade.
ilrosewood@reddit
On accident - Kansas. By accident sounds really weird to me. But also I’ve never thought of how I say this
DadooDragoon@reddit
On accident
"By accident" sounds like you're trying too hard
RVCSNoodle@reddit
Accidentally
Content_Talk_6581@reddit
by accident…on purpose
Transgendest@reddit
I always say "on accident" by accident
cryptoengineer@reddit
Google ngram shows that 'by accident' is far more popular.
cryptoengineer@reddit
by accident.
therealmmethenrdier@reddit
By accident. When I hear “on accident” it makes me think of toddlers who are learning the language
Ok-Parfait2413@reddit
by accident
505backup_1@reddit
Definitely "on accident"
hooyah54@reddit
Accidentally
Unndunn1@reddit
By accident. On accident sounds like something a child would say
Mort-i-Fied@reddit
By accident.
On accident sounds so ridiculous.
sbk510@reddit
Accidentally
SaberTruth2@reddit
By accident
BossDjGamer@reddit
Yes
Butterbean-queen@reddit
Apparently there’s an age component to this.
By accident-born before 1970
By accident/on accident-born between 1970 and 1994 (they use either form)
On accident- usually used by people born after 1995
https://www.juliatomiak.com/grammar-check-on-accident-vs-by-accident/#:~:text=People%20born%20before%201970%20use,usually%20use%20%E2%80%9Con%20accident%E2%80%9D.
Arrival_Departure@reddit
That makes sense because I was born in the late 90s and never cared about the difference. Didn’t even realize “on accident” bothered people until I saw it on Reddit, because most of my peers say it.
tiger_guppy@reddit
Today is literally the first time I’ve ever heard of “on accident” being wrong. I say it all the time. I’m in my 30s.
Ceemer@reddit
You and me both.
OptatusCleary@reddit
I was born in the eighties and find “on accident” to sound wrong. But I do know people my age who use it.
PilferedPendulum@reddit
Born in ‘83 in SoCal and I use both. Maybe it’s a consequence of Yinzer parents. I have some linguistically odd habits for a SoCal native according to some folks.
Aggravating-Guest-12@reddit
Yes it sounds really ghetto ngl
amsterdamitaly@reddit
That makes a lot of sense. Born 1992 and iirc I used "on accident" and "by accident" pretty interchangeably until my mother married my step-dad who has a masters degree in anthropology, focused on language. The first time he heard me say "on accident" I got a lecture about how that's incorrect English, apparently that lecture was potent enough that from that day on I swapped to strictly saying "by accident"
alloutofbees@reddit
Yikes. What school gave a prescriptivist a degree focused on language?
tiger_guppy@reddit
You’d think someone with a degree in linguistic anthropology would be more interested in the way people say different phrases.
sarahprib56@reddit
I was born in 1980. I know by accident is the correct usage, but I'm also certain that on accident has crossed my lip, and was probably corrected by my English teacher mother.
Butterbean-queen@reddit
My father who was not an English teacher but raised by my very British grandmother, would never have let that slide. He’s very proper. So I feel your pain.
swisssf@reddit
Maybe pain but you'll have an easier time in life speaking correctly?
Butterbean-queen@reddit
I’m bothered by what I considered grammatical errors the fact is that language rules aren’t static. What was wrong in the past isn’t wrong now. Language is constantly in the state of flux. And change in it appears to be happening more rapidly with the use of more forms of social media.
swisssf@reddit
To some degree. But it's appreciably less true than a popular narrative that's been put forward the past 7-9 years would have one believe.
Saltwater_Heart@reddit
I’m 91 and my husband is 90. We both say “on accident”.
Butterbean-queen@reddit
Perhaps you are surrounded by others who say that. By accident is considered proper English and that’s the way it’s been taught. But I understand that people say things colloquially that others may not say.
shittyswordsman@reddit
Totally makes sense. I'm 1993 and use both interchangeably.
Resident_Bitch@reddit
I fall into the 1970-1994 group and definitely use both.
Dogs-sea-cycling@reddit
Same
JeromeXVII@reddit
Yeah I’m 25 and both sound perfectly fine. I don’t know which I use more but I’m sure both interchangeably.
Butterbean-queen@reddit
I’m pre 1970 and I cringe at on accident. 😂 But language evolves over time and apparently it’s the case here.
Aggravating-Guest-12@reddit
I'm 2003 and I cringe at it too! As far as I can remember, it only became a thing in the last 5-10 years. I never noticed it before then.
Responsible-Coffee1@reddit
by accident
Astute_Primate@reddit
Definitely by accident
ButterFace225@reddit
I wasn't really sure at first, but I say "by accident", according to my personal message history.
Mainbutter@reddit
Accidentally. I don't use "on" or "by".
LilLebowskiAchiever@reddit
“On accident.” It may be a west coast thing.
Ask yourself; do you correct Jamaican grammar? Australian grammar? South African grammar? Black American grammar? First Nations Canadian grammar?
The English colonized the world and shipped out their least educated, least advantages populace. All so they could expand sheep herding and avoid paying social support for impoverished people. They also enslaved black Africans and shipped them abroad to exploit their labor and enjoy the stock dividends.
So modern Englishmen can STFU if modern descendants of those disadvantaged people don’t speak English exactly like modern Englishman.
OnMyVeryBestBehavior@reddit
By accident.
But most Muricans don’t know grammar at all.
They will say things like:
There is a lot of people who XYZ.
I’ve notice there’s a lot of (things with an S).
ChevyJim72@reddit
depends on context. Also i use accidentally more
Frankjc3rd@reddit
I would usually say "by accident", I have also used the phrase "accidentally on purpose".
houndsoflu@reddit
I say “by accident” because “on accident” is one of those grammatical errors that drives me nuts. “On accident” is very common, though. My parents said I used to say it when I was really young and they thought it was cute, so maybe kids weren’t corrected when they were younger or something and now it’s just habit.
Ok_Orchid1004@reddit
American here and its by accident. On accident is just wrong.
Curious-Cranberry-77@reddit
I say accidentally
VisionAri_VA@reddit
I’ve never even heard “on accident” until relatively recently. It’s been “by accident” all my life.
Maybe it’s a regional thing?
Dependent-Cherry-129@reddit
By accident (Northeast)
Terrible-Peach7890@reddit
It’s regional for the most part
Embarrassed_Wrap8421@reddit
By accident. I have never heard anyone say “on accident.”
OrdinarySubstance491@reddit
By accident is grammatically correct but I am human and even with a major in English, I am certain I've made grammatical errors here and there. I definitely think "by accident" is correct!
PersephoneinChicago@reddit
Accidentally.
camacho2028@reddit
By accident.
sfdsquid@reddit
It's "by accident." People who say "on accident" are probably the same people who say "I could of."
rhapsody98@reddit
Accidentally.
Previous-Recording18@reddit
By accident. I only hear "on accident" on the web, no one in my real life says it, so maybe it's regional?
originalcinner@reddit
It's generational. No one over a certain age says "on accident", and parents/teachers all say they haven't taught it like that. Kids just invented it themselves, and it went viral.
I can't remember where the cut off is, but it's somewhere between those born inafter 1995 and those born in/before 1975.
I was born in 1961 and "on accident" grates on my last nerve.
sprout92@reddit
I've never once heard someone say by accident, including boomers.
originalcinner@reddit
I'm right here saying it. BY ACCIDENT BY ACCIDENT BY ACCIDENT.
;-)
sprout92@reddit
How dare you
lifeofideas@reddit
Let’s introduce “by purpose”.
vim_deezel@reddit
"an accident", "accidental", or "accidentally" also work in a lot of places to and we can avoid this phrase that is polariziing and tearing apart reddit, and indeed, the country apparently.
Legitimate-Squash-44@reddit
Exactly this. Born in 1968, my kids (1996 and 2003, all of us born in California) and all their friends would say “on accident.” I absolutely can’t stand it and corrected them every time I heard it… and still lost the battle. I still cringe every time but gave up correcting them. It’s like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.
OptatusCleary@reddit
My wife and I must be right at that generational crossroads then. We were both born in the mid eighties. I say “by accident” and I think “on accident” sounds wrong. She says “on accident” unless she’s deliberately speaking formally.
orneryasshole@reddit
Same here
hatetochoose@reddit
‘72, and I definitely heard “on accident” growing up.
lollipop-guildmaster@reddit
Born in '77, and I use by and on accident interchangeably.
MPLS_Poppy@reddit
I say on accident and I’m 40.
Previous-Recording18@reddit
I'm a teacher and my students say by accident so it's possible it's both.
I'm Gen-X and yes, same.
o93mink@reddit
I think it’s education-based. You either know no one who says it or everyone you know says it.
Blackbird136@reddit
I say it sometimes, and I’m college-educated. 🤷🏼♀️
I think it’s a combination of it being regional, and the fact that I sometimes use incorrect grammar on purpose (no pun!) to not sound condescending. I’m in an area of “I seen your friend yesterday, me and your friend went to the store,” etc. I know it’s incorrect, but if you speak correctly here, some people in certain groups consider you to be snobby. 😩
I do draw the line at saying “I seen,” though. It makes me cringe.
Bundt-lover@reddit
I will not use “I seen” but when I briefly lived in Iowa, I had occasion to toss down a “purt near” once or twice.
vim_deezel@reddit
Were you saying it tongue-in-cheek or seriously tho?
Bundt-lover@reddit
Unironically! Then I moved back to Minnesota and it disappeared.
Blackbird136@reddit
Wait what’s “purt near”?
vim_deezel@reddit
I think the proper spelling is "pert near" as the root word is pretty and purdy
Bundt-lover@reddit
“Pretty near” but with a connotation of “damn near”.
“I came purt near to hitting a deer on my way home from work!”
FritzTheCat_1@reddit
"I'll go with." Or
"Are you coming with?"
Midwestern expression
Delores_Herbig@reddit
I’m college educated, and I grew up with people who spoke the way you mentioned as well as people who spoke with “perfect” grammar. I think a lot of people who are obsessed with speaking “correctly” don’t understand that language is fluid, and there’s a lot to be said for talking to people the way they talk.
Blackbird136@reddit
Absolutely. Plus I’m in a sales position so it definitely benefits me to mirror, to an extent.
Previous-Recording18@reddit
It ain't no big deal.
Blackbird136@reddit
That’s another one I don’t say. It’s funny that some of them do hurt my ears. 😂
o93mink@reddit
Yikes. Sounds awful.
WinchesterFan1980@reddit
I'm college educated and was an English teacher. I used both.
o93mink@reddit
Well at least you stopped using one, hopefully the wrong one.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
There isn’t a wrong one.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Complete and utter bullshit lmao. I know people with a PhD that say on accident and people who barely finished high school that say by accident.
SciGuy013@reddit
I have never used by accident.
Nova_Echo@reddit
"On accident" is incorrect and implies that the accident is on a surface, or that it was done on purpose. "By accident" is correct.
But don't count on the average American to be able to speak English correctly.
C_H-A-O_S@reddit
Average Americans, even native English speakers, are so often comically bad at English. Sadly I notice this mostly from rural folks when they move to my city. It's not a huge divide but it is noticable. I know I sound like a prescriptivist but it's genuinely stuff that's just wrong, like using "brang" instead of "brought"
Nova_Echo@reddit
No I get it, most of my friends are rednecks and I constantly want to autistically correct all of their shitty grammar.
Scattergun77@reddit
I'm a redneck, and bad grammar infuriates me.
C_H-A-O_S@reddit
Omg the autistic urge to correct grammar is too strong. Sometimes I just blurt out fun linguistic facts and my coworkers stare at me like I have two heads. I like reminding them that English isn't even my second language, so I got to learn all the fun quirks they take for granted.
dangerstupidkills@reddit
It's brung not brang. I brung tater salad to the holler festival and nabout everbody thought it was a hoot .😆
crafty_j4@reddit
Why is “on purpose” not on a surface?
Previous-Recording18@reddit
Could be!
Positive-Avocado-881@reddit
My friends explained it to me that it’s just the opposite of “on purpose” and I really can’t argue with them. It’s definitely regional!
One_Laugh3051@reddit
I think I will starting saying I’ve done something “by purpose.” It fits with by accident, by design, and by the way.
Positive-Avocado-881@reddit
Exactly - like once I realized none of this was actually consistent, I stopped caring lmao
BingBongDingDong222@reddit
I don't think it's regional as much as generational. I don't even know if there are true 'regional' sayings for anyone under 30 these days as everyone is online.
Positive-Avocado-881@reddit
How old are you? I’m under 30 myself and know plenty of people who say it lmao. Regional phrases absolutely exist in younger generations.
BingBongDingDong222@reddit
I'm over 50 and don't know anyone who says "on accident"
Positive-Avocado-881@reddit
It’s almost as if that supports it being a regional thing 😂
BingBongDingDong222@reddit
You live in PA (if your flair is accurate). People in the South are saying it's regional to the South (which isn't true). Someone else said that it's only black people (which isn't true). Then someone said it is only uneducated people, and someone else said the their daughter who is at Yale uses it.
If it's regional, what region?
It's spreading everywhere like COVID.
sandbagger45@reddit
Right- I’m from NYC too. I’ve heard ‘on accident’ once and everyone starting laughing at the guy.
godesss4@reddit
So grew up Midwest. I use both lol
Don’t worry, I know you didn’t do that on accident. It fell by accident.
LJ_in_NY@reddit
I’m from NY, I lived in NC for a while and the natives said “on accident”. It’s country.
Js987@reddit
I say by accident 99% of the time, I feel like there’s a few weird cases where I’ve used on accident but it was an exception.
CheeksMcGillicuddy@reddit
I can’t think of any instance I would say ‘on accident’ it just doesn’t really make any sense.
sonotorian@reddit
“On” is a Britishism. It’s “by accident” in the US.
AllyMcBeel@reddit
East coast of US - In conversation, speech, formal writing, any books, tv, etc…. I have only ever heard and used “by accident.” I hadn’t ever even heard “on accident” until about 2 years ago. I thought it was a mistake, but I am hearing it more often now. I’m very curious as well to see if there is some sort of regional explanation or if it’s just incorrect.
Previous-Morning3940@reddit
If the other person has the context I'll say 'it was on accident" occasionally and for some reason mostly when apologizing but if they don't I'd say "blah blah -context- happened by accident"
Hot-Freedom-5886@reddit
Neither. I use “accidentally.”
Liminal_Creations@reddit
Seems I'm in the minority here but I definitely say on accident
Ok-Rate-3256@reddit
By
fjr_1300@reddit
By accident.
logaboga@reddit
I’ve never heard on accident in my life
iammadeofawesome@reddit
By accident.
Carrotcake1988@reddit
I say by accident. I’ve heard on accident.
Of all of the wrong grammar usage that shows up in the US, this is one that doesn’t really bother me.
wtfaidhfr@reddit
I'm not sure I use either more than the other.
ToughDentist7786@reddit
I definitely say by accident (age 38 from northwest America) I’m trying to think maaybe I’ve said on accident before … but I can’t be certain. By accident definitely sounds more natural to me.
derickj2020@reddit
On accident is a display of illiteracy. Same as waiting on something. Servers wait on customers.
Tough_Antelope5704@reddit
By accident
Impossible-Money7801@reddit
Only rural people say “on accident.”
XxsilverboiiiixX@reddit
Neither; I usually go for accidentally
its_all_good20@reddit
Accidentally.
CrashEMT911@reddit
Accidentally.
So neither of those two choices.
Otherwise-Owl-6547@reddit
i strictly say “on accident”. 26 yr old west coaster, take it as you will
Dippity_Dont@reddit
By accident, of course, as is correct.
Spoonful-uh-shiznit@reddit
On accident. My parents always corrected me growing up but it was what all my peers said so I stuck with it and still say it at age 45.
OnionSquared@reddit
It should be "by accident" or "accidentally." "On accident" is a southern thing
Lemfan46@reddit
"On accident" sounds like it wasn't really an accident.
Ken-Popcorn@reddit
I had never heard “on accident “ used in my B entire, long, American life
Empress_Clementine@reddit
On purpose, by accident.
coolbeansfordays@reddit
I say both. I don’t know if it’s my age (46) or dialect (Upper Midwest).
kayseeboo92@reddit
Neither, I’ve always said “Accidentally”
ExtremeIndividual707@reddit
I say on accident. Everyone I know does, too. It's because of the phrase "on purpose".
Eg:
"Did you do this on purpose, or was it an accident?"
"It was on accident."
Regardless of "by" being grammatically correct, I think this is why this colloquialism exists, and I'm not mad about it.
mr_lockwork@reddit
Accidentally is the norm among my circles, but on accident is also common enough.
Suspicious-Peace9233@reddit
By
_Internet_Hugs_@reddit
I say "accidentally".
Prestigious-Ad8209@reddit
By accident
sixpackabs592@reddit
accidentally
"oops i did that accidentally"
rippthejack@reddit
Kinda crazy reading this post. I think I've only ever used "on accident" or worded it differently (accidentally). By accident does not sound wrong to me tho, just a bit overly formal.
Clean_Factor9673@reddit
By accident
nemo_sum@reddit
No, it's wrong here, too. I always correct my kids when they say it.
rockandroller@reddit
Younger Millennials and Gen Zers started this "on accident" stuff and I hate it.
godless_pantheon@reddit
Accidentally.
EvanstonMichelle@reddit
By accident
gavin2point0@reddit
I think I normally would say 'it was an accident'
upvotegoblin@reddit
I use both
BottleTemple@reddit
I say “by accident”. I associate “on accident” with children.
MojoShoujo@reddit
I say "accidentally" specifically to avoid this debate
touchmeimjesus202@reddit
I say on accident, rarely do I hear by accident
Dark_Tranquility@reddit
I exclusively say on accident. Never thought about it once before this post
9BALL22@reddit
I say "by accident" but wouldn't be put off by "on accident". Either way gets the point across.
nagato36@reddit
I’ve used both
hermitzen@reddit
By accident.
oldschooleggroll@reddit
I thought "on accident" was a British thing. It's very annoying!
judithsparky@reddit
By accident
No_Papaya_2069@reddit
By accident. On accident seems to be a younger person thing, and it also drives me nuts. (American in my forties.)
Vherstinae@reddit
It's more common in the UK and is only now starting to leak over to the US. Like just about everything else bad in the UK, they do it and then blame the US.
chocolate-and-rum@reddit
Accidentally
grandma4112@reddit
Depends if I accidentally screwed up it was by accident if I accidentally fixed or made something better it was by accident.
X-T3PO@reddit
by
Lilypad1223@reddit
On accident, but I wouldn’t think twice about by accident either.
vim_deezel@reddit
Both are fine in speech. In writing, you should say “by accident” though.
Otherwise-Elephant@reddit
Neither, I say "accidentally" or "it was an accident".
Facet-Squared@reddit
Thank you, I thought I must be going crazy, because I’ve never said either of OP’s options.
Annhl8rX@reddit
I’m in this camp as well.
vim_deezel@reddit
I say "an accident" or 'accidentally" depending on the sentence
GoodFriday10@reddit
By accident or accidentally.
JustMyThoughtNow@reddit
Kind of like “top of mind”. Hate it v
No-Function223@reddit
They mean different things so I use them for different things. “I grabbed whole milk by accident” “I broke that thing on accident” my brain isn’t articulate enough to describe what the difference actually is, but there is one, I know that much.
MossyShoggoth@reddit
We don't use either term in our house. We say "accidentally" We're in northeast Ohio.
ArcadiaNoakes@reddit
"By accident"
Specific-Jury4270@reddit
I love how anything bad, real or not, if any non-American doesn't like it... they will attribute it to us. If you're a kid- " on accident" I remember hearing it a lot when I was in school. An adult- " by accident" or better yet, " "it was an accident."
Silly_Stable_@reddit
I say “accidentally”.
Jorost@reddit
By accident. “On accident” is grammatically incorrect but has become more common in recent decades. The follow-on is how you describe it when people are standing queued up: the correct form is to say you are standing “in line,” bit a lot of people incorrectly say “on line.” This is a phenomenon that predates the internet so it is not related to “online.”
Anecdotally, I have noticed that “on accident” is more common among children, who are still working out the finer points of grammar. Waiting “on line” seems to be more of a midwestern thing as far as I can tell (New Englander here).
deutschdachs@reddit
By accident, I agree that "on accident" is completely annoying and wrong. Seems to be getting more popular unfortunately... I guess language devolves as they say
Naive_Abies401@reddit
by accident
CremeAggressive9315@reddit
I say "by accident."
ConstructionJealous5@reddit
By accident
CourageLow9760@reddit
on accident
ZerotheWanderer@reddit
Depends on the locale and how the word flow goes. In the south I hear all 3, throwing "an accident" into the mix
sheikhdavid@reddit
I've heard both, I'm sure there is some regional variation.
Propjet@reddit
By accident.
Imhereforeposts@reddit
I say on accident but by accident seems more dramatically correct. Maybe it depends on the context though.
deepdishes@reddit
How interesting. I’m from California. I had to say it out loud and “on accident” came out of my mouth. The shame is real.
CaterpillarIcy1056@reddit
I try to say “by accident” but I definitely said “on accident” about 30 minutes ago, so… 🤷🏻♀️
Current_Poster@reddit
By accident.
I really don't think much of the "purity of the language" crowd though, so generally if someone uses a variant English phrase that's clear and otherwise inoffensive, I don't mind.
Sassy-Coaster@reddit
By accident
its_annika-xo@reddit
by accident usually
Karrotsawa@reddit
I've always said "By accident" in Canada, but I've noticed my 14-yr-old son picking up a few Americanisms from the internet, like "Soda" "Zee" and "On Accident".
But with the recent belligerence from the incoming US president, he told me that he and his friends are making an effort to drop those. Well he said Pop instead of Soda the other day and I noted it out loud, and that's when he said that.
Rumple_Frumpkins@reddit
This seems to be an age thing, at least I. The Eastern US. I used to work with lots of kids and "on accident" was much more common with them than with older folks.
li4bility@reddit
“On accident” is so fucking cringe to me. Automatically makes me think that person has a double digit IQ.
ProfuseMongoose@reddit
I've used both depending on how formal or relaxed the conversation is. What is not going to happen is an attempt at shaming for dialectical differences between the US and UK.
It's fascinating that dialect differences only seem to matter when it's the US. I'm not policing the many dialects of UK english and if they're up to my standards.
I've seen too many posts in r/AskUK and r/AskAnAmerican that only exist to stoke rivalry and I suspect this is one of them.
Mr_Kittlesworth@reddit
On accident is shameful.
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
Being a prescriptivist is shameful.
Mr_Kittlesworth@reddit
It was a joke. Obviously it didn’t land
CrimsonCartographer@reddit
I don’t see how it was supposed to be a joke.
HereWeGoAgainWTBS@reddit
Dialect shaming? 😂
strywever@reddit
By accident. On accident makes no sense.
Waste-Job-3307@reddit
"by accident"
Chemical-Mix-6206@reddit
By accident & on purpose. The only time I ever heard on accident was a young person who seemed to have a reserved seat on the struggle bus.
webbess1@reddit
By accident
theemptyduke@reddit
accidentally
not_falling_down@reddit
by accident.
I have mostly heard on accident from younger people.
Still_Apartment5024@reddit
I say by accident. I feel like there are a few phrases like this floating around. The one that reallg bugs me is saying you stood "on line" for something, rather than IN line. Unless they actually painted a literal line on the pavement, you weren't on it, you were in it.
redrosebeetle@reddit
Accidentally
Beauphedes_Knutz@reddit
In the next city over, it is both. You can drive on Accident (Dr.) by accident.
hjmcgrath@reddit
I use "by accident". "On accident" sounds ignorant to me.
MTVChallengeFan@reddit
"By accident".
dell828@reddit
I say “by accident”.
Technically “on accident” is not grammatically correct.
Poprhetor@reddit
Accidentally
wickedlees@reddit
By accident.
sms2014@reddit
This is something my father drilled into my head as a kid/teenager. BY accident means it was happenstance. ON accident means you did it hoping you wouldn't get caught. So by accident it is.
elmwoodblues@reddit
It was a 'cute' reverse of 'by accident/on purpose', and somehow stuck.
We've peaked as a species.
flerchin@reddit
"Accidentally" is better than either.
ButtTheHitmanFart@reddit
lol British people love bitching about the way Americans says things when y’all have some of the dumbest names for stuff. But what should I expect from a country that also pretends they’re not racist and doesn’t also have greasy unhealthy food.
Beakymask20@reddit
I use both. I like to make languages scream and cry. It's my least atrocious language crime....
Sihaya212@reddit
I say accidentally
Johnnadawearsglasses@reddit
On accident is improper English. You will generally see that more with people with lower levels of educational attainment.
Dry-Address6194@reddit
I seen that post on accident. I don't know the problem. Thanks for Axing.
Rundiggity@reddit
I think I say accidentally to avoid this.
Mousehole_Cat@reddit
I say by accident, but I was born in the UK. My husband who was born in the US says on accident.
To me, on accident sounds a grammatical mistake made by a 4-year-old.
Objective_Emu_1985@reddit
I think I tend to say “accidentally” more than anything.
Utterlybored@reddit
By accident, or “accidentally.”
TherinneMoonglow@reddit
I say by accident. I'm from the east coast US. My late husband, from the West coast, said on accident.
slade797@reddit
By accident, because I’m not five years old.
Highly_Regarded_1@reddit
I've never heard anyone, but children say "on accident".
Beingforthetimebeing@reddit
This same discussion on Reddit earlier this week suggested that the use of "on" may have appeared as a translation by French speakers, as different prepositions are used in different languages. In the SE, that may be the Creole influence spreading?
And you might as well just go ahead and discuss waiting "on line" vs "in line" (while elsewhere, it's either in or on a queue?) at the same time to get it over with.
Careflwhatyouwish4@reddit
By accident. I just presume anyone that says "on accident" does that by accident. Otherwise I'd have to have another pet peeve. 🤷
carlweaver@reddit
By accident. I have only heard “on accident” maybe in the last five years, except from children.
Ladonnacinica@reddit
By accident.
I never heard anyone say “on accident”.
Adept_Bass_3590@reddit
By
BreezyMoonTree@reddit
I don’t usually say “by/on accident”. I typically say “accidentally”.
LadyInCrimson@reddit
Depends on the day
PeanutterButter101@reddit
"On accident" since that's how my dad always said it (he was from the UK). Funnily enough I got several down votes on a different subreddit recently for saying "on accident".
Severe-Ad-9176@reddit
By accident. "On accident" is grammatically incorrect.
FallsOffCliffs12@reddit
By accident. On accident is grating.
Different-Dot4376@reddit
by accident
Think_Leadership_91@reddit
I say “on accident” when it’s a joke describing someone else’s mistake because it’s a funny phrase
warrenjt@reddit
Accidentally.
Nah, but I think I use the other two interchangeably. I just said them both multiple times out loud and neither sounded weird to me.
EnvironmentalCap5156@reddit
Accidentally. The other ways sound like toddler talk.
LessCoolThanYou@reddit
Accidentally.
UnicornUke@reddit
I'm from Appalachia and I say "on accident".
kludge6730@reddit
I’m an American and I can’t stand “on accident”.
Kamena90@reddit
Same here, but my grandmother was an English major and was very instant on us speaking "correctly".
AidHall@reddit
Even if I said it on accident
BingBongDingDong222@reddit
Nails on a chalkboard.
LaneyRW@reddit
Same here, it drives me crazy
Bundt-lover@reddit
It’s like the verbal equivalent of “loose” instead of “lose”. Or “tounge”.
If people are using it in the context of AAVE then it doesn’t really bother me, but if they’re NOT using AAVE then they just sound like an idiot.
Karamist623@reddit
Same
Aggravating-Guest-12@reddit
Same. It kills me. I honestly lose a little respect for the person who says it 🫠😅
mykepagan@reddit
Same here. Because that usage is not universal, but it comes up enough to hurt my brain.
John_TheBlackestBurn@reddit
Accidentally
Beneficial-Horse8503@reddit
On accident. 💯
IanDOsmond@reddit
"By accident." I understand how "on accident" came about, but I never even saw it before a couple years ago.
susannahstar2000@reddit
Yes. On purpose and by accident.
mycolo_gist@reddit
American English was an accident?
travelinmatt76@reddit
I find it funny that they have a problem with on accident when they say stuff like waiting "on line" instead of "in line"
Cruickshark@reddit
Twizzler46@reddit
"By accident" definitely sounds right but I usually say "on accident" when I think about it. "By accident" sounds like saying "whom". I was born in '05.
GSilky@reddit
"it was an accident" is how I say it. Accidentally covers your use.
taintmaster900@reddit
I don't really know but knowing me, probably both.
eldritch-charms@reddit
On accident or by accident either one just slips out without me noticing really. Not something I think about much.
DesiK888@reddit
I grew up in the PNW, and in my early 40’s, have a college degree, and say on accident. By accident sounds okay to me but is not what I say. I didn’t realize some people correlate using that with being uneducated.
OptatusCleary@reddit
I say “by accident” and I always thought of “on accident” as a juvenile error caused by a false analogy to “on purpose.”
But my wife (who is the same age as me) usually says “on accident” so I don’t know.
rexpup@reddit
"by" is illogical, it should be paired with its opposite
OptatusCleary@reddit
“By” makes perfect sense in the context. We say that a book is “by” its author, and a painting is by its artist. So the result in this case is “by” accident.
symbolicshambolic@reddit
Yeah, it's the same formation as "if he wants a fight, by god, he'll get one" or "by the power of Grayskull." By accident make perfect sense.
rexpup@reddit
"on accident" also makes perfect sense. It's the opposite of "on purpose"
OptatusCleary@reddit
Perhaps. It just sounds wrong to me because I was raised saying “by accident.” To be honest, I would probably say that “on purpose” makes less sense than “by accident” does.
rexpup@reddit
So, that's my point. People get all pissy about "on accident" solely because they grew up with something else. There's a logic to "on accident" being an opposite, yet folks pretend to not understand it.
OptatusCleary@reddit
I don’t know that anyone is “pretending not to understand” what “on accident” means. It’s just that it sounds weird to someone who was raised not to use it, and it seems like an odd an abrupt change to something that sounds childish if you aren’t used to it.
Perhaps a good analogy would be the use of “pony” for a baby horse. Plenty of people use it that way and I can understand them. But I learned “pony” as a word meaning a type of small horse, and “foal” as a word meaning a baby horse. There’s nothing preventing language from adopting the meaning of “baby horse” for “pony,” but that doesn’t mean that we should or have to accept that it means that now.
Desperate-Lemon5815@reddit
Language isn't supposed to be rational. You take for granted many illogical parts of language and never realize it.
rexpup@reddit
Well, that's kind of my point. People in this thread insisting "by accident" is correct with no real reason. It's not any more correct than "on accident", they're just stuck-up
Ravenclaw79@reddit
By way of an accident -> by accident.
rexpup@reddit
Nobody says "by way of accident" though, do they? It's quite archaic.
Ravenclaw79@reddit
Not anymore: It’s gotten shortened to “by accident.”
rexpup@reddit
And it's been reinterpreted as "on accident " because it pairs with "on purpose", making a nice opposite
Ravenclaw79@reddit
How can you be on an accident? It makes no sense.
rexpup@reddit
How can you be "on a purpose"? It makes no sense. How can you be "by an accident" nearby an accident?
Ravenclaw79@reddit
“On” usually implies focused intention, as in “on target” or “on point.” “By way of” implies a means of method of doing something: “By way of an accident” is another way to say “accidentally.”
rexpup@reddit
I understand "by way of accident" but people don't say that - they say "by accident" which appears to be missing some of those words, making the phrase nonsense!
Aggravating-Guest-12@reddit
That's why it's cut down to by accident
rexpup@reddit
Which, with the omission of those words, sounds like utter nonsense
Stircrazylazy@reddit
I think this is it. The original corollary was "by design" but who says that these days outside of a scientific or religious discussion? On purpose is what most people would use in casual conversation so I can definitely see how a shift like this would happen.
spud4@reddit
I may have done that on accident. But I'm sure you did it by accident.
dick_schidt@reddit
Accidentally. Why use two words when one will do?
Lower_Neck_1432@reddit
By accident. But even in the USA, there can be variations of phrases. For example, much of the USA stands "in line" (queue), but on the east coast (New England), they stand "on line".
LunaGloria@reddit
If it is about the subject of the sentence: by accident. If it is about the object of the sentence: on accident.
fencesitter42@reddit
I've only ever said "on accident" and "by accident" sounds artificially formal to me. I'm in my 50s and grew up in the rural Pacific Northwest.
ZotMatrix@reddit
I ironically say on accident
Least_Material5030@reddit
I say By Accident and consider On Accident to be a juvenile statement, as others have said... if an adult says it it sounds weird...
2quacklikeaduck@reddit
Accidentally.
littlenemo1182@reddit
"Accidentally"
MyWibblings@reddit
"By" is correct. "On" is incorrect.
That said, if I had a dollar for every American who uses the incorrect "on accident" because they never learned to speak properly, I would have enough money to retire to a private island.
Yoongi_SB_Shop@reddit
“By accident.” “On accident” is only if you don’t know grammar (which is a lot of Americans).
RabidPoodle69@reddit
Accidentally.
MontanaPurpleMtns@reddit
Grew up in Montana; lived most of my life on the West Coast, and I’m old. On accident sounds glaringly wrong. Not cute wring like an intentional ain’t, but wrong! like prolly for probably. (Can we talk about doubling the l, while eliminating the two b’s?? Ugh!)
By accident or accidentally.
I
Szaborovich9@reddit
Neither, I say or write accidently
shrimp-and-potatoes@reddit
I don't make mistakes, so I have no idea.
Constant-Security525@reddit
"By accident" in cases where the action was not intended to have been done.
However, if there was some intention, you'd say "on purpose".
Jahacopo2221@reddit
44 years old, mid-Atlantic raised and I’m pretty sure I use both interchangeably. 🤷🏼♀️ More likely to use “on accident”, I think.
misterpaul214@reddit
the preposition is unneccessary
it was an accident it happened accidentally the damage was accidental
Beautiful-Owl-3216@reddit
"on accident" is never used in English.
swisssf@reddit
I've never heard anyone say "on accident" - maybe a regional colloquialism?
dippyshitty@reddit
Both. I’m also used to hearing it both ways. I have never heard that on accident is considered improper. This is shocking to me.
northeastprincess@reddit
Same here
northeastprincess@reddit
Either, they are interchangeable for me
cgomez117@reddit
I tend towards by accident but on accident is used equally or even more often in my local experience
One_Perspective_3074@reddit
I used to say "on accident" but my mom yelled at me for it and I got in the habit of saying "by accident"
kippen@reddit
I used to say on accident until I got fed up with everyone correcting me. I still think "on accident" is perfectly fine, but I use "by accident" at work to avoid the disparagement.
Hamiltoncorgi@reddit
I said on accident a couple times as a kid and was corrected by my Mom who was an English Major. By accident is correct. Haven't seen or heard that in years. I think it's a common childhood error because of on purpose.
razzledazzlegirl@reddit
‘On accident’ is grammatically incorrect, it should be ‘by accident’.
Chzncna2112@reddit
Depends on what happened
JuanG_13@reddit
By accident
beachmasterbogeynut@reddit
By
PlainJane1887@reddit
Accidentally, it was an accident, or by accident. Never on accident for me personally although I’m aware that there are some Americans who say on accident.
THE_Lena@reddit
I said it out loud to figure out which way I’d say it. And I said “an accident”.
catslay_4@reddit
I think I’m mostly in this camp. I will say on accident here and there by mostly what you said above.
Cocacola_Desierto@reddit
I say both depending on how I'm phrasing my sentence.
Imaginary_Roof_5286@reddit
I got them mixed up quite a lot as a child. I finally learned “ON purpose” and “BY accident”.
BraddockAliasThorne@reddit
by
VentusHermetis@reddit
why wouldn't one just use 'accidentally'?
Some_Mongoose4624@reddit
“as accident”
pconrad0@reddit
I'm a native speaker of US American English, 60 years old, and never heard "on accident" until about 10-15 years ago, from my 18-22 year old students, among whom it was suddenly common.
Now I hear it all the time, but before 2010? Never.
Hambulatory@reddit
Accidentally
baalroo@reddit
Both are correct, with the first being a fun play on the phrase "on purpose."
SammokTheGrey@reddit
I haven't really noticed. I think I might say "on" simply because it's so commonly accepted, but it feels wrong written out. As I think about it, I don't know that I ever really use either, since I rarely have cause to say the word "accident" except to say "it/there was an accident" or "someone accidentally"
hlipschitz@reddit
On purpose. By Accident.
glendacc37@reddit
By accident
NickCharlesYT@reddit
I've used both interchangeably.
may_i_b_frank-with-u@reddit
I say, “Happy Father’s Day.”
Stunning-End-3487@reddit
An accident or by accident.
greenleaves3@reddit
I'm a naturalized American. I say "by accident." The first time I ever heard "on accident" was in southern California. I lived there for many years and probably 80% of my peers said "on accident." I've heard it said by people from other states too, from different generations, but not as consistently as in socal.
Sassy_Weatherwax@reddit
I have never heard "on accident" in my life. I'm 47. Lived in California almost all my life, but never heard it the year I lived in NY, either.
Master-Collection488@reddit
It's "by accident." "On accident" is something little kids and functionally illiterate people say/type.
MrsBeauregardless@reddit
I am constantly reminding my kids that it’s “by accident”. Saying “on accident” just sounds stupid.
One of my kids has picked up saying “what happened?”, when she means “I beg your pardon,” or “could you please repeat what you just said? I didn’t catch all of it.” Gaaaah!
Curious_Ad_3614@reddit
E coast "on line" W coast "in line"
ArtisticSeahorse5073@reddit
Neither, I say "accipurposely" 😂
CalmRip@reddit
BY accident; ON accident curdles the cockles of my little ex-editor's heart.
Designer-Button-7865@reddit
On accident, I think
Last-Radish-9684@reddit
Accidentally. Probably because I'm really old.
ZonaWildcats23@reddit
“An accident”
IvanMarkowKane@reddit
By accident. Retired. NY NJ PA MI MN.
Also, often rhymes with soften. Now get off my lawn
Master_Kenobi_@reddit
An accident
DunebillyDave@reddit
"by accident." The first time I heard "on accident" was from Will Smith in Men in Black.
zyxwvwxyz@reddit
Both but probably "on accident" more frequently.
leafcomforter@reddit
By accident, or accidentally.
Inner_Cup5349@reddit
I think it’s basically conjugated around my area. Things on their own happen by accident, but a person does something on accident.
jereezy@reddit
"Accidentally"
AtYiE45MAs78@reddit
Since I'm not 5 yrs old, I say. By accident.
jackfaire@reddit
"It was an accident" I don't think i've ever said by or on.
yasdinl@reddit
Grammatically correct is “by” but I instinctively say “on” and get mad at myself for being incorrect. That said, it is supposed(?) to be the opposite of “on purpose” so my theory is that it’s sensible if they use the same preposition.
Interesting_Claim414@reddit
BY
genericusername241@reddit
I'm Canadian, just browsing the comments, but I say "accidentally"…
PrettyMonarchy@reddit
It happened by accident. It was done on accident. Passive vs active is how I’ve always seen it used, but I’m also mocked for insisting droven is an acceptable conjugation of drive :)
Kbbbbbut@reddit
I say on accident
thabonch@reddit
On accident.
2bciah5factng@reddit
“accidentally”
Sensitive-Season3526@reddit
By accident.
willtag70@reddit
By accident. "On accident" sounds like a NY-ism to me, the way they say standing "on line" instead of "in line".
Previous-Recording18@reddit
Lived in NY all my life. On line yes, on accident no.
willtag70@reddit
Yeah, just meant it reminds me of that NY-ism. I think it's more a young person's misspeak, confusing it with "on purpose".
KathyA11@reddit
On line isn't just a NY-ism - North Jersey uses it as well.
KathyA11@reddit
Nope. I'm from North Jersey, so NYC suburbs, and no one says 'on accident'. By accident, yes.
However, I hear 'on accident' quite a bit since we moved to north-Central Florida.
LatverianBrushstroke@reddit
On purpose - By accident
F-35Nerd@reddit
i say on accident lol
Brokenluckx3@reddit
Whenever I hear someone say "on accident" I want to rip my ears off. Unfortunately I hear it A LOT 😩
Sibby_in_May@reddit
On purpose versus by accident.
MrMrsPotts@reddit
What about “by purpose “? That’s my favourite.
Salty-Snowflake@reddit
Both. 🤷🏼♀️
playthehockey@reddit
By accident. “On accident” sounds stupid to me but I hear a lot of people use it.
Brief-Armadillo-7034@reddit
I say 'on accident' and don't really hear 'by accident'. Sounds like it could be a regionalism
GingerAndProudOfIt@reddit
On accident
SL13377@reddit
On -Californian
gracefulveil@reddit
On accident. I'm 30.
DrinksOnMeEveryNight@reddit
I’d say both - I lean toward “on accident” verbally I think
CraftFamiliar5243@reddit
I'm American and "on accident" drives me crazy. It "by accident".
Lornesto@reddit
Accidentally.
Much_Protection2775@reddit
On accident.
Puzzleheaded-Bee4698@reddit
Grew up in NYC & Long Island; definitely BY accident.
I've lived in Wisconsin & Minnesota for 40 years; definitely ON accident.
Glad-Cat-1885@reddit
On accident. I know it’s not grammatically correct or whatever but I’ve heard it’s also a regional thnf
Nicktendo94@reddit
By accident, on accident doesn't sound grammatically right to my ear
so_im_all_like@reddit
Both, but probably "on accident" more.
Honest_Camera496@reddit
Accidentally
notsosecretshipper@reddit
I say on, by, and an accident. 🤷♀️
RyouIshtar@reddit
I change based on the situation....though now that i'm thinking about it.... "It was on accident" may grammatically be "It was an accident" and i've just been saying it wrong my whole life. (Is currently re-evaluating whole life)
Turdle_Vic@reddit
Depends if they did it on accident or by accident
My family uses them for specific contexts. “He hit the button on accident” Vs “That happened by accident.” Basically the incident itself is on accident but referring to the incident is by accident. He crashed the car on accident The car crashed by accident
SJ31314@reddit
Neither, am an American and use 'an accident'
My husband is 1 of 4
Me to my MIL: 'How many kids did you want'
My MIL: 'None, they were all an accident'
shrektheogrelord200@reddit
accidentally. T
Saltwater_Heart@reddit
On accident
bubba1834@reddit
By
BugNo5289@reddit
I alternate. I can never remember which one is correct.
Metoocka@reddit
By accident. I have lived in 4 different states in 3 different regions of the USA. I've only heard "by accident" used.
KaitB2020@reddit
Depends.
Maybe I dropped you on your head on accident; but I definitely sideswiped that car with my bike by accident.
getjicky@reddit
I’ve never heard “on accident” before today.
ForsakenAlliance@reddit
“On” purpose
“By” accident
PastaM0nster@reddit
By accident
Quirky_Commission_56@reddit
I’m an American and have never said “on accident” because it’s “by accident”.
CockroachNo2540@reddit
As a kid “on accident” until my mother repeatedly reminded me it is “by accident.”
FeRooster808@reddit
Either is fine. I use both.
synsofhumanity@reddit
I think I use both
vinnyboyescher@reddit
I ratier prefer accidentally
WalkingOnSunshine83@reddit
By accident
RavenDancer@reddit
On is just incorrect lol
me_sorta@reddit
i don’t think i’ve ever been more surprised by a comment thread. i say “on accident” and have my whole life. i honestly don’t think i’ve ever heard anyone say “by accident” that just sounds weird
LingonberryPrior6896@reddit
By accident
Therealladyboneyard@reddit
Accidentally
Wanda_McMimzy@reddit
I’ve done stuff on purpose and on accident. I’ve never done something by purpose.
Wanda_McMimzy@reddit
I say both depending on the situation (not by the situation). Regional variations are normal and people need to stop getting their knickers in a twist about it.
PoolSnark@reddit
By!
FlyByPC@reddit
Always "by accident," but "on purpose."
peculiar_bitch@reddit
Neither. I say “it was an accident”
poisonedkiwi@reddit
I feel like I say "on accident" a lot more, but I do sometimes say "by accident" as well.
nothingthanbetter@reddit
Accidentally or by mistake.
kinnikinnick321@reddit
From Cali - many of us say "on accident". On accident indicates that there is no intention or purpose, by accident sounds like one is still to blame. "I did it by accident" - still sounds like you did it. "I did it on accident" - fleeing from any responsibility.
beanomly@reddit
I say accidentally.
ubiquitous-joe@reddit
By. But I hear a lot of people here in the Upper Midwest say on. Personally I dislike it, but the problem is prepositional phrases are idiomatic anyway, so often there is little true justification for the preference other than tradition.
Redrose7735@reddit
Oh, this drove me crazy. My kids (all grown now) would say "on accident". I told them it is "by accident" and "on purpose".
schmelk1000@reddit
I think I usually say “by accident” but I wouldn’t be surprised if I actually say both versions.
Ritalynns@reddit
On accident sounds very infantile and is grammatically incorrect.
CyaNydia@reddit
accidentally
Sleepygirl57@reddit
56 from Midwest it’s on accident around here
Quartzsite@reddit
Does no one say “accidentally”?
Independent-Math-914@reddit
Neither, I saw "accidentally" lol.
QuikBud@reddit
An accident
QuikBud@reddit
Or accidently. Those are the only two I ever say.
BluesyBunny@reddit
I say both.
hugedicktionary@reddit
on accident makes it sound like you're illiterate to me
strumthebuilding@reddit
I think I may say both
Extra_Shirt5843@reddit
By accident. "On accident" sounds like my kid when he was in elementary school.
DarthMutter8@reddit
I truthfully say both. I know by is grammatically correct and it is what I would write but while speaking on does come out. I'm 32 so that doesn't line up with what others are saying about it be those who are under 25. Who knows. I can't say I ever thought much about it but I will be now.
UrLittleVeniceBitch_@reddit
BY accident. “On” accident makes my skin crawl
Desperate-Pear-860@reddit
In the south, "on accident" is probably common.
FunkIPA@reddit
When I was a kid and said “on accident” by dad would correct me to “by accident”.
DrunkenGolfer@reddit
Just because a lot of people say things wrong (despite the existence of Boston) that doesn’t make it right. It is “by accident”.
AnnieB512@reddit
By accident. It's the only way to say it properly.
WhichSpirit@reddit
For me, things happen on/by accident but people only do things by accident.
NorthernPuck@reddit
Upper midwest. I say/hear people say both. Sometimes "by" comes out, other times "on" comes out
rapt2right@reddit
Western U.S. born and raised. BY accident. I cringe at "on accident" every time I see or hear it.
Ghitit@reddit
By accident. On accident is incorrect, no matter how many people misuse it.
amboomernotkaren@reddit
I live in the mid-Atlantic. Most people say by accident. I admit, when I hear “on accident” I feel the same way as when I hear someone say “I seen it.” And don’t get me started on anyways. Reckon and ya’ll, however, are ok.
peoriagrace@reddit
I say an accident.
Glad_Temperature1063@reddit
On accident
WellWellWellthennow@reddit
By accident.
SAGELADY65@reddit
By accident!
CarbonInTheWind@reddit
Accidentally
No_Wedding_2152@reddit
By is proper.
Agile_Property9943@reddit
I’ve said on accident, I know it’s wrong but it’s something I grew up with saying. It’s not that big of a deal. The AskUK subreddit is always mad about everything Americans do anyways whether it’s real or not. They have conversations about America every week on there lol.
peteofaustralia@reddit
I feel like it's a recent Americanism, as an attempted opposite of "on purpose."
pumpkinpie1993@reddit
I think I use both. I’ll have to try to notice next time I say it lol
AdExcellent7055@reddit
On accident is what i usually say
Kardessa@reddit
Either or really, it just depends what flows naturally from the sentence I spoke. I haven't put much thought into which one I say or why
_Smedette_@reddit
By accident. I’ve heard “on accident” among young kids here in Australia, which I’m sure we’ll get blamed for soon enough.
Connect_Office8072@reddit
I hate it when they say, “on accident” and use “by accident.”
DoubleSpoiler@reddit
on accident
accidentally
Forward_Picture_1296@reddit
American, Gen X, I say by accident.
what__th__isit@reddit
Just say "accidentally"
somecow@reddit
By accident (central and south texas). On accident is acceptable, doesn’t matter.
BaconFairy@reddit
I have said either but it depended on how I started the sentence. If I hit my thumb it was on accident. If I was walking down the street and had hit someone by accident. I feel there are subtle grammatical rules I'm using here but I'm not good enough to explain why other than the use of on and by.
Tuerai@reddit
US, upper midwest. I would only ever say "by accident", and the other one sounds PAINFULLY wrong to me, to the point that if a friend of mine says "on accident" I will correct them, even in public. I hate it so much. Mostly because with how many younger people are using it, it seems like it will become the new common way to say it, and I will have to hear it the rest of my life, and I am already mad about it.
Fred42096@reddit
I’ve heard a solid mix favoring “by accident”. I personally just say “accidentally” an overwhelming majority of the time. “On accident” strikes me as something I’d hear most often from a school age kid.
binarycow@reddit
I say both.
OutrageousMoney4339@reddit
Definitely by accident and I'm from MA.
birdy_nerdy@reddit
I think I say on accident, or accidentally. I might also occasionally use “by accident.” College educated 50+. I asked two of my daughters and one said “by accident” and one said “on accident.” Both 25 or younger. 🤷♀️
Imyourhuckl3berry@reddit
Over 25 so I say by accident
birdy3133@reddit
Canadian here, every time I hear on accident I want to bash my head against a wall.
honeysuckleminie@reddit
I’m from California, 23 years old (so possibly backing up the age-based theory) and I’m absolutely shocked at these comments. I’ve never heard anyone say “by accident” before, IRL or online. I’ve said “on accident” my entire life. “By accident” is grating to me lol
DieHardAmerican95@reddit
I say accidentally.
TooeyAnn@reddit
By
Untamedanduncut@reddit
Both
Hoppie1064@reddit
I speak English. I use "by accident".
kylaah27@reddit
Definitely both
Adventurous-Window30@reddit
On purpose and by accident here in the sticks.
RedditSkippy@reddit
I say “on purpose” and “by accident.”
“On accident” sounds very uneducated to me. Is it regional?
Forever_Ev@reddit
It's a younger person thing
tn00bz@reddit
Ibuse both interchangeably. Like "oh sorry I called you by accident." But then I'd say, "I called him on accident."
For somereason the recipient matters to me.
_chronicbliss_@reddit
It should be by accident, grammatically. But since it's the opposite of on purpose, people say on accident.
Alfredthegiraffe20@reddit
All I can say is 'on accident' had better stay in America because it's ridiculous and I never want to hear it again.
Itchy_Pillows@reddit
By accident
MordicusEgg@reddit
We could stay away from the whole on/by controversy, by switching to 'accidentally'.
Aperol5@reddit
I say “on accident” and I was an English teacher. I also pronounce onion as ung-yin.
pocketrocket-0@reddit
We switch to on accident ironically because of ON purpose. That don't make sense either. But now everyone says it unironically . Should start saying off purpose.
BigBlaisanGirl@reddit
Depends on the sentence.
NittanyOrange@reddit
By accident
takketytam@reddit
I did that on accident
It happened by accident.
But "on accident" is grammatically incorrect I believe
osama_bin_guapin@reddit
On accident. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say it as “by accident,” despite what this sub is saying
vyyne@reddit
I thought on accident was the annoying uk-ism. Now I'm confused.
kalelopaka@reddit
By accident. On accident makes no sense to me. You do things on purpose.
avelineaurora@reddit
By accident.
BiAtticus@reddit
"By accident" = done by mistake
"On accident" = task failed successfully
DaisyDuckens@reddit
On accident but I’ve used both.
griefofwant@reddit
Also, "on line" vs "in line"
mustang51k@reddit
By accident vs on purpose
poopynips1@reddit
Accidentally
RoboticBirdLaw@reddit
Neither, generally. I did something accidentally. This thing was an accident.
StringSlinging@reddit
I’ve said by accident on accident before.
MmMmM_Lemon@reddit
On accident is the way stupid Americans say it.
Namen37@reddit
I grew up saying "on accident." I recently learned that "by accident" is the proper phrase, so I've been trying to switch. However, I also think that it doesn't ultimately matter.
Normal-Fall2821@reddit
I say it was an accident. I used to say on accident . I found out it’s wrong as an adult
PinchMaNips@reddit
Both, depends on context
Leaf-Stars@reddit
I say accidentally
Shandrith@reddit
I've said both, but I tend to say accidentally more often than either.
mofojones36@reddit
Plot twist, I say “accidentally”
GPB07035@reddit
As noted, by accident or on purpose. On accident is just a mistake made to match the on purpose pattern.
Chance_Novel_9133@reddit
I usually say accidentally, but I probably used by accident as a kid.
figureground@reddit
By
ididreadittoo@reddit
Neither..... accidentally .....or by accident.
Orienos@reddit
Mostly “by” but I feel like I’d use either.
timothythefirst@reddit
I normally say by accident but I’ve probably said on accident before without thinking about it
JJTouche@reddit
I always say 'by accident'.
And, depending on who I am talking to, if some says 'on accident', I often say "Are you sure it wasn't by purpose?"
Responsible-Radio773@reddit
Only little kids say “on accident.” I think?
Efficient_Wheel_6333@reddit
Where I've lived (NE Ohio and SE Michigan), it's always either on accident or accidentally. By accident tends to make me think of a somewhat different context than on accident or accidentally, even though they mean the same thing.
Jumpy_Lettuce1491@reddit
If I said more than I wanted to share it would be “on accident”
If I meant to say one thing and said something else it would be “by accident”
five_speed_mazdarati@reddit
On accident. On purpose. Nobody says ‘by purpose’ so let’s keep the same preposition.
TalkToTheHatter@reddit
I use "by accident" but I've heard "on accident"
tabidots@reddit
Either are acceptable to me (born 1986, grew up in the Midwest) by analogy with "on purpose ≠ on accident" and "by chance = by accident."
I think my choice is influenced by the verb: "do something on accident", "mis-tag someone by accident", "find that book by accident"... I suppose "by" would be my go-to except for when the verb is "do."
Legitimate-Blood-613@reddit
Accidentally
AuggieNorth@reddit
When I hear someone say "on accident", my estimate of their intelligence goes down a couple of points.
IDigRollinRockBeer@reddit
By
InevitableRhubarb232@reddit
I say both
HeyMySock@reddit
I grew up in Massachusetts and always say by accident. I never heard on accident until I moved to NYC. On accident still sounds off to me. I’m firmly by.
papa_f@reddit
On accident is fucking stupid and makes no sense.
Same as 'I could give a shit '. It means the fucking opposite of what it's supposed to. Jeeeeeesus
KAKrisko@reddit
When I was a kid I would get the on/by part mixed up and say "on accident". It seemed logical to me that the opposite of on purpose would be on accident. Now I know it's "by accident" but occasionally I revert to my childhood habit and say "on accident". Although never by purpose.
HistoricalSock417@reddit
Both
Reader47b@reddit
Both interchangeably.
thereslcjg2000@reddit
“By accident.” I have heard “on accident” gain prominence in the last few years though, and it’s a massive pet peeve of mine!
Bonch_and_Clyde@reddit
Both, and I don't know if there's really a difference in the times I use either.
Late-Context-9199@reddit
On accident usually (Texas)
TheNatureOfTheGame@reddit
I (born and raised in KY) say "by accident," but my daughters (OH and IN) say "on accident" and I assume they picked that up at school/from friends.
Jazzlike-Basket-6388@reddit
I understand that by accident is the formal phrase, but I've always said on accident. Do you do things by purpose?
Suppafly@reddit
I think I say on accident more often, but I've used both.
mind_the_umlaut@reddit
By accident.
Thelonius16@reddit
The correct one is “by accident.” But recently I’ve heard the other more and more.
“On accident” sounds like something a three-year-old would say.
ReallyEvilRob@reddit
On
MattinglyDineen@reddit
"by accident"
The only people I've ever heard say "on accident" are 4-year-olds.
panTrektual@reddit
I say "by accident." If I said "on" when I was a kid my dad would make "by purpose" jokes.
i-self@reddit
By accident, but I’m thinking people started saying “on accident” as a counterpart to “on purpose”?
sgtm7@reddit
Both sound wrong to me. I don't say either. Accidentally. It was an accident. Those are the phrases I would use.
Oomlotte99@reddit
I say “on accident” or accidentally. I have heard this is either a Wisconsin or Midwest thing.
EitherLime679@reddit
I did something on accident.
So I guess I say on accident. People are saying it’s an education thing, but I think it’s just a cultural thing. I’m seeing a lot of NY and CA people talk about education but a lot of other people are saying “it depends,” and no southern representation here. So I think it’s one of those cultural things.
BingBongDingDong222@reddit
I think it's an age thing.
ChaosNDespair@reddit
I fell into some money on accident but i stepped on your foot by accident.
pileofdeadninjas@reddit
I say "by accident" because I'm an adult
Gabemiami@reddit
You said it so I didn’t have to.
Prior_Benefit8453@reddit
By accident.
noinnocentbystander@reddit
By accident
SeasideSteep@reddit
By accident
poortomato@reddit
Neither, I say "accidentally". If I had to pick one, it would be "by accident" but I've never said that in my life, lol.
However, I do "It was an accident". Like a specific accident. So I suppose people could mishear "an" as "on". But I suppose there are also people out there who would say "on".
I think "accidentally" clears that all up, regardless.
Ten_Quilts_Deep@reddit
"On accident" is the opposite of "on purpose". It has to do with intent.
Gabemiami@reddit
Ooof…when I hear, “on accident,” I don’t think good things. I’ll still be respectful towards your feelings though, since I’m not a d!ckhead.
TresWhat@reddit
I think it’s age dependent. People over 40 say by accident and younger (not sure exactly where the cutover is) say on accident.
phyncke@reddit
I say accidentally
ADHDpotatoes@reddit
It is a more generational thing. I was born in 2000 and say “on accident”, the opposite of “on purpose”. No one ever corrected this at any point in schooling or in college and I have just found out that it’s technically “wrong”.
ExcellentWeather@reddit
I was born in 2000 and say "on accident" as well. But at some point (I think in high school?) it was drilled into me that "by accident" is correct, so I always write it that way instead
GIRose@reddit
Mostly by accident
I will say on accident occasionally, especially if I am speaking in a more formal register.
StereoSabertooth@reddit
Depends if I'm talking fast or not. I'll either say by accident if I'm paying attention to my sentence formation. I'll say "on" accident usually during informal conversations.
Western-Bus-1305@reddit
I don’t make much of a distinction but probably on accident usually
V01d3d_f13nd@reddit
I saw an accident. There was an accident. When I hear either of the 2 mentioned I just remember that accidents don't happen. They are caused, often by neglected. But I would not say that "I did it on accident" nor "by accident" I say "yeah I fucked up. I didn't know what I was doing. I was in a hurry. I didn't have all the parts I needed and I tried to make it work. I didn't care enough about what I was doing and did a half assed job. I was Ill informed. "
Ethereal-Storm@reddit
Saying "by purpose" sounds more off than anything else! :D
abbot_x@reddit
This is really more related to age than anything else. I'm in my late 40s and always say "by accident." Younger people regard "on accident" as acceptable.
Crepes_for_days3000@reddit
Depends on the context.
Best-Cucumber1457@reddit
By accident. Or I just say "accidentally".
kowalofjericho@reddit
Unapologetically on accident
flora_poste_@reddit
I have never said “on accident,” and I never would or could say that. It’s “by accident,” always.
epicgrilledchees@reddit
What had happened was…
FutureHot3047@reddit
Both
DontReportMe7565@reddit
Probably by accident but I'm sure I've said "on" occasionally.
Ignore the Brits though, they say "fall pregnant".
Jojowiththeyoyo@reddit
Both, but most of the time I just say accidentally
Both_Painter_9186@reddit
Its a regionalism, like “waiting on line” vs “waiting in line” Ive noticed north easterners use “on” line and the rest of the country says “in” line.
skivtjerry@reddit
I usually say "accidentally", but "by accident" seems most common.
DOMSdeluise@reddit
by accident. On accident is a younger people thing.
DannyC2699@reddit
an uneducated younger people thing, yeah
DOMSdeluise@reddit
no it's just a novel feature of American English
Drew707@reddit
Why would you try to take their smug feeling of superiority from them?
Studious_Noodle@reddit
Yes. I've been teaching English 41 years and no one said "on accident" back in the day. I still hear it mostly from kids.
The other infuriating thing: people who think "which" means "and." As in, "I went to the grocery store which they were out of eggs."
But that's dumb people talking.
OptatusCleary@reddit
I would probably assume the person had switched sentences midway through. Like that the original intention was to say “I went to the store, which was pointless because they were out of eggs” but that the person just left out the part in the middle.
Studious_Noodle@reddit
That's what I thought when I first started hearing it. Then I thought it was just people who weren't native speakers of English.
Now it's all over the place, and frequently on Reddit, along with other hallmarks of stupidity and laziness, like people who don't capitalize "I."
DannyC2699@reddit
i’ve never heard “which” used like that before, yikes
that’s local yokel level of unintelligent lol
Farewellandadieu@reddit
Yep
MaulBall@reddit
Neither really, i tend say “accidentally”. Both on & by accident feel a bit clunky/unnatural to me.
theniwokesoftly@reddit
I say “by” but I don’t blink if someone else says “on”.
googly_eye_murderer@reddit
I say both. I'm trying to think of how I differentiate them. I don't think it's qualitative. I think it's probably whether the sentence sounds better with a vowel or consonant there.
ohyesiam1234@reddit
Accidentally
hatetochoose@reddit
On accident Vs. On purpose, which is why I think kids tend to say “on accident” and I think it makes sense in that context.
I can’t say it’s a phrase I personally use as adult.
TheCloudForest@reddit
Your first mistake was looking at anything on the cesspool of hate that is r/askuk.
But I had never even heard of "on accident" until I moved to Chicago at 18, so by then my idiolect (personal speech style) has been pretty well-formed and it very rarely comes out much.
AnUninterestingEvent@reddit
I think it’s because the opposite of “by accident” is “on purpose”. If “on purpose” makes sense, why does “on accident” not?
Ranbru76@reddit
By accident. I don’t remember hearing “on accident”.
Throwawayhelp111521@reddit
"By accident" is the only correct form.
Main-Fly2699@reddit
PNW here, 100% "on accident!"
cre8majik@reddit
Either, depending on the situation.
Tardisgoesfast@reddit
We say “by” accident. I can’t stand hearing “on” accident.
Fragrant-Fee9956@reddit
I say by accident. I don't think I've ever heard anyone say "on accident".
Super_Appearance_212@reddit
By accident. My sister says the same and was shocked that her 20-something Yale-educated daughter said "on accident". So there seems to be a cultural shift happening. I blame "Barney & Me" bc all the kids there said "on accident".
Bundt-lover@reddit
You actually might be on to something, because Barney was insanely popular when kids that age were babies.
joeinsyracuse@reddit
Drives me nuts that my daughter (40s, three college degrees) says “on accident” and asks “Can you bring me to the mall?” (No, but I can TAKE you to the mall and then BRING you home.”
_bibliofille@reddit
I usually word it as "it was an accident", so neither.
taylocor@reddit
Same here
Omega-Black-999@reddit
Same
tracygee@reddit
By accident. I don’t know anyone who says “on accident”.
elpollodiablox@reddit
I thought "by accident" was grammatically correct. I typically will say "accidentally" though.
"I fed the cows too many worms by accident." sounds odd.
"I accidentally fed the cows too many worms." sounds better.
EnigmaIndus7@reddit
I say by accident
sketchahedron@reddit
Accidentally.
Working-Office-7215@reddit
I am from nyc area (only ever heard “by accident”) but now live in Missouri and my kids say “on accident” - drives my bonkers but I can’t beat it out of ‘em
GanAnimal@reddit
By accident, and on accident makes my skin crawl.
toridyar@reddit
Maybe it’s a southern thing? I say on accident, so does my partner, so do other people around me
Speaking to education, we’re both college educated, he has a masters, both software engineers, so I don’t think that’s it?
We’re both riding the line between elder millennials and gen x
NCprimary@reddit
via oopsie
brimstone404@reddit
I think it sounds weird either way, so I say "accidentally"
ThisCarSmellsFunny@reddit
On accident is incorrect.
shelwood46@reddit
I always say "by accident". Also always "bored with", "bored of" is like nails on a chalkboard to me.
Shadesandsox@reddit
Both
SuperPetty-2305@reddit
It depends on the circumstances and the way I'm phrasing my sentence. Sometimes I'll say "Well, she stepped back, and by accident, she kicked over the flower pot..." Other times, I'll say "She was backing up, and she knocked over the flower pot on accident." It really depends who I'm speaking to and the situation.
SquareShapeofEvil@reddit
Uhhh am I the only American who says “on accident” 😂
hashbazz@reddit
"Accidentally."
I'm an American, and I think saying "on accident" sounds ignorant.
YourOldCellphone@reddit
Do people realize that these are contextual and both are grammatically correct?
kgxv@reddit
By accident, because that’s the correct way to say it.
Aguywhoknowsstuff@reddit
We specifically say "By" around here but both are recognized and understood.
Bubble_Lights@reddit
By
Aggravating-Guest-12@reddit
By accident! On accident is only a new thing, the last 10 years maybe. It really gets on my nerves. It's the new 'esxcape' or "axke".
It's like nails on a chalkboard for me lol
Loisgrand6@reddit
By
chococrou@reddit
I used to say “on accident” as a kid. Then after I reached high school I realized it was wrong and self-corrected to “by accident”. I know many people, including my family, who say “on accident”.
Rude-Illustrator-884@reddit
Both? I grew up with a mom from rural Nebraska so I’ve adopted quite a few way she says stuff.
Vachic09@reddit
It's mostly by accident, but on accident slips out occasionally.
CommercialWorried319@reddit
I think I use both fairly equally to be honest.
harrypotterobsessed2@reddit
Both.
Woodbear05@reddit
By
Sowf_Paw@reddit
"By accident" which is the opposite of "on purpose." Just as I wouldn't say "by purpose," I would not say "on accident."
XayahTheVastaya@reddit
I can't think of a case I wouldn't just say accidentally
Taanistat@reddit
I was looking for this. Thank you.
Ornery-Wasabi-473@reddit
By accident
Courtaud@reddit
there's a difference.
most everything case is "by accident"
someone else, that did something in the past, that you didn't necessarily agree with, is done "on accident". there's some implied intention.
OhThrowed@reddit
'It was on accident' 'I did it by accident'
I suppose it matters if I'm saying something passive or active.
kludge6730@reddit
“It was an accident”
Ravenclaw79@reddit
Maybe that’s where this stupid thing came about: turning “an” to “on”. I hadn’t thought of that.
kludge6730@reddit
Whatever it’s start “on accident” sounds semi-literate.
Mellow_Mushroom_3678@reddit
This is what I would say.
Or “I accidentally left the cooked steak on the counter all night. What a waste!”
I honestly don’t know if I would say “on accident” or “by accident.” Neither sounds right to me.
SuzyQ93@reddit
This is exactly the distinction I use (I believe - I've never thought about it in detail before).
I would say - "That happened on accident." "I did that by accident."
The age variation noted by Butterbean-queen below makes a lot of sense, and I fall squarely into that "both" demographic.
I'm hardly stupid or uneducated, and my undergrad degree was in English. This absolutely feels like an age/regional variation, to me.
rattlehead44@reddit
This
Dinocop1234@reddit
Yes.
Ravenclaw79@reddit
“On accident” is incorrect and sounds absolutely awful. It’s BY accident.
calicoskiies@reddit
I say by accident. The only ppl I’ve heard say in accident are my own kids when they were learning how to talk.
SatanicCornflake@reddit
"By accident."
"On accident" sounds like something a child would say.
I had cousins who used to eat with their mouths open all the time, and it annoyed the shit out of me. I think I would be equally annoyed if someone said "on accident" to me.
pacifyproblems@reddit
I'm 35, in Ohio, and didn't know "on accident" wasn't grammatically correct until a few years ago. Now I say "by accident." But for the first, idk, 32 years of my life I said "on accident" and had never been corrected.
fauxrain@reddit
It’s regional. Much more common, but not universal, in New York metro area
Karamist623@reddit
By accident
EggStrict8445@reddit
By accident
NoLipsForAnybody@reddit
by accident
FadingOptimist-25@reddit
By accident. It seems to be a mashup of the two phrases, but it’s a pet peeve of mine.
MyDogOper8sBetrThanU@reddit
By accident and apparently I’ve been pissing off a fair amount of people by doing that.
Hatweed@reddit
Both, but I’k pretty sure I say “on accident” more.
Apocalyptic0n3@reddit
Pretty sure I say both. With no rhyme nor reason. I prefer "by accident", but I know I say "on accident" occasionally too.
shellssavannah@reddit
By accident here..
an_edgy_lemon@reddit
“By accident” sounds correct to me, but I still say “on accident” out of habit.
Zestyclose_Media_548@reddit
I like to say accidentally- but probably slip and say because accident.
Ok_Acanthisitta_2544@reddit
Canadian here. By accident. I only hear "on accident" from people for whom English is their second language.
dangerstupidkills@reddit
I prefer accidently to either other choice . I accidentally ate the last of the cookies thinking there was another bag in the pantry .
Wielder-of-Sythes@reddit
By.
PureYouth@reddit
I use them both
Bowieweener@reddit
By accident
fajadada@reddit
By accident I replied to this post
MPLS_Poppy@reddit
I say on accident all the time. I’m sure I say both. But I did hear about this constantly when I lived there and I think it’s a stupid thing to be bothered by.
JudgmentalRavenclaw@reddit
By accident. California
Myveryowndystopia@reddit
By
yozaner1324@reddit
I'd probably use "by accident", but "on accident" doesn't sound weird to me. I probably wouldn't even process a difference if someone said one vs. the other.
Guinnessron@reddit
By accident for me.
kangareagle@reddit
By accident.
BitterDeep78@reddit
Neither. Accidentally.
AnymooseProphet@reddit
"by accident" - but I have heard children say "on accident" used as the opposite of "on purpose".
California
Few-Cup2855@reddit
By accident.
SirTheRealist@reddit
I say by accident, “on accident” just sounds wrong to me, and I only see it online.
WritPositWrit@reddit
Yes. I say both. Same for on line and in line.
gardener3851@reddit
My grown, very intelligent and very bright daughter has used "on accident" since she was a child. Nothing I said would make her change. She knows better.
martind35player@reddit
By accident or accidentally
Vert354@reddit
I'm fully aware it "should" be "by accident," but when did that ever stop anyone.
Honestly I think I mostly avoid the preposional phrase form and stick with either the noun form "an accident" or the adverb form "accidentally" as in "That was accidentally destroyed maliciously"
Dear-Explanation-350@reddit
"on accident" is an Americanism i can't stand
Sea-End-4841@reddit
It’s always by accident.
tonyisadork@reddit
both.
Independent_Prior612@reddit
I usually say “accidentally”
Forever_Ev@reddit
It's regional, not an inaccuracy or dumb people thing
JoshWestNOLA@reddit
By accident.
AzkabanKate@reddit
I cant stand “went to University”. Or “went on holiday” We go to A university or we go on vacation
Early_Clerk7900@reddit
On accident is how young people say it. Very annoying.
helikophis@reddit
I say "by", but my sisters who grew up in the same place but are a decade younger than me say "on".
4MuddyPaws@reddit
I say "by accident." Hearing "on accident" sets my teeth on edge.
jaebassist@reddit
By
Sorrelandroan@reddit
On accident hurts my soul.
Ultimate_Driving@reddit
Neither one. I say "accidentally."
Murderhornet212@reddit
It’s regional
SavannahInChicago@reddit
my word I cannot stand to hear them say if idea. There is no R in it.
DannyC2699@reddit
people who say “draw” when talking about a drawer 🤦🏻♂️
that shit’s way too common where i live
buried_lede@reddit
By
Major-Winter-@reddit
On accident. Always have.
GoblinKing79@reddit
Either "it was an accident" or accidentally," since they're grammatically correct. But on exceedingly rare occasions, I use "by accident," because it's more grammatically correct than "on."
emmettfitz@reddit
Accidentally.
The_Better_Devil@reddit
I use both. It's context dependent I feel like
Romaine2k@reddit
by accident or accidentally, on accident sounds childish to me
jwbourne@reddit
I say either because this is the land of the free.
Subvet98@reddit
Yes
LordofDD93@reddit
Both, pretty interchangeable for the most part I imagine. Depends on the sentence structure. “I had deleted the file by accident.”, or “Well on accident I had deleted the file.” or “I deleted the file, it was an accident.” All of them are fine.
KoldProduct@reddit
Neither, I gaslight gatekeep and girlboss
gormami@reddit
On accident seems to be a cultural thing. I live in the US South (North Carolina), and I know a lot more Black people that say it that way than others. Not universal either way, but a stronger tendency.
Rhubarb_and_bouys@reddit
The correct terms were "by accident" and "on purpose". People often mix it up, especially if English is their second language or a child.
chinchillazilla54@reddit
I want to say "on accident" because the opposite is "on purpose."
In practice, I will generally say "accidentally," though, I think.
Kris82868@reddit
By accident.
SeparateMongoose192@reddit
Probably "by accident" but mostly I say accidentally.
catladyorbust@reddit
I use both. I try to correct myself to use "by accident" but it slips out.
DaygoTom@reddit
Neither. I say "accidentally."
DannyC2699@reddit
“by accident” is the correct way to say it
“on accident” infuriates me when i hear it lol